If you are importing from China or Hong Kong and need to make advance payments, you have surely heard the phrase:
— “Pay it through a cueva, it’s faster.”

The temptation is real. When your bank holds you back, the supplier demands dollars, and the shipment depends on that payment, someone appears who "solves everything for you in 10 minutes.” But… at what price?

In this blog, we tell you about the real —and often invisible— risks of using cuevas or unregistered entities to pay abroad. Because when something sounds too easy in Argentina… it probably is not.

🚩 What is a "cueva"?

In Argentine informal language, a cueva is an unregistered and unregulated entity that operates in the currency exchange or international payment market, generally handling cash dollars or transfers “off the system.”

Some look like financial offices, others are personal contacts. All operate without regulation, without guarantees, without traceability.

⚠️ Why do so many SMEs fall into this?

Because:

• Banks do not allow you to make advance payments if you do not meet the zero deadline from the BCRA.

• The Chinese supplier does not wait. They want dollars NOW.

• MEP or CCL operations can be slow or inefficient.

• Legal platforms are not widely known.

Facing this set of restrictions, the cueva appears as “the only way.” But that way has dangerous bumps.

❌ Real risks of operating with cuevas

1. Total loss of money
   If you transfer to an unregistered account abroad or to the name of a third party who disappears, you have no one to claim to. There is no valid receipt. There is no guarantee.

2. Legal and criminal problems
   Operating outside the system may involve violations of exchange rules, money laundering, or evasion. You, as a company, may be responsible even if you “didn’t know.”

3. Issues with AFIP and BCRA
   If you make a payment and then import goods without legal backing of that payment, you may encounter problems when formalizing the import or justifying funds.

4. Reputational damage with your supplier
   If the Chinese supplier does not receive the money in an orderly manner or if the payment is delayed or blocked, you may lose trust in that business relationship.

5. No traceability
   You cannot justify the outflow of funds during an inspection or audit. If at some point you want to formalize, seek financing, or scale your operation, this history may work against you.

💡 Are there secure alternatives?

Yes. More and more companies are opting for specialized solutions like Loula, which:

✅ Allow advance payments while complying with Argentine regulations.
✅ Do not use cuevas, crypto, or shortcuts.
✅ Have legal support, traceability, and documentation.
✅ Operate in less than 24 hours in many cases.
✅ Give you access to dollars to pay suppliers in an orderly and secure manner.

🛡️ The secure option is profitable

Avoiding a shipment delay, a scam, or a penalty by AFIP is worth much more than “saving a few pesos” with a cash operation. Operating legally, traceably, and quickly is possible. You just need the right tool.

📅 Do you want to avoid these risks?

Try Loula for free. In less than 30 minutes, you can find out if your operation is viable and how to resolve it, without banks, without cuevas, and without losing your mind.

👉 Click here to schedule a demo with Loula.