Your supplier in China is asking for USD in advance. The bank won't enable the payment. The BCRA is holding you back. The operation is urgent.

And then the "quick solution" appears: a person that tells you they can transfer the funds "off the record", "through Hong Kong", "in 24 hours", "without paperwork".

It seems easy. But beware: paying through a cueva today is not only risky… it can be a disaster.

In this article, we explain why more and more importers are avoiding that path and how to resolve advance payments without exposing yourself or losing the business.

🚩 What does it mean to pay through a cueva?

A "cueva" or "financier" is an informal person or company that exchanges pesos for dollars and offers to make international payments outside the formal financial system.

They promise you:

• More competitive exchange rate.

• Speed.

• No paperwork or bureaucracy.

But they don’t tell you everything.

💣 The 4 risks of using a cueva

1. Your money might not arrive
   There is no contract. No tracking. No guarantees. If the transfer doesn’t arrive, no one is held accountable.

2. You could lose the operation and the supplier
   If your supplier doesn’t receive the payment in time, they might cancel the order or change the terms. Business relationships can cool off quickly.

3. You are outside the legal framework
   Payments through a cueva do not comply with BCRA or ARCA regulations. This could have legal or tax consequences for you or your company.

4. You are in the hands of an informal third party
   You’re entrusting thousands of dollars to someone you don’t know, without a contract or bank backing. If they disappear or get blocked, you lose everything.

🔍 What if they audit you?

A payment through a cueva has no documentary support. If ARCA or BCRA review your transactions (and they do), you won't have a way to justify that expense.

This not only complicates your accounting. It can lead to fines, blocks, or in extreme cases, criminal charges.

💡 What are other SMEs doing in your place?

Many SMEs that used to operate with cuevas are now migrating to safer solutions. Platforms like Loula allow you to pay suppliers in China:

✅ In USD, directly to their account.
✅ Without going through traditional banks.
✅ Complying with Argentine regulations.
✅ In less than 24 hours, with documentation.
✅ With a competitive and transparent exchange rate.

📈 Is it worth taking the risk?

No. Neither for the exchange rate nor for the speed. Today there are legal, fast solutions made for importers like you.

A bad decision in a payment can ruin your relationship with the supplier and leave your business stalled for months.

🚀 Resolve the payment without risks

Loula is a platform designed for Argentine SMEs that need to make advance payments abroad without obstacles.

We comply with the regulations, protect your money, and safeguard your operation.

📅 Do you want to avoid risks and pay without hassle?

Request a no-obligation demo. We’ll show you how to make your advance payment quickly, legally, and securely.

👉 Click here to try Loula or schedule your demo: https://www.getloula.com/join