""Point me in the direction of what dollar amount you need, and we'll get it priced out and funded today!" It's Bella, it's Jake, it's Zevi strangers offering quick cash to help Joshua Esnard's small business in North Carolina. How does $350,000 sound? Or $768,000 and up to $900,000? Approval in an hour, they say, money in a day. "No gimmicks, Joshua." "No hidden fees, No BS.""
"For importers like Esnard, President Trump's global tariffs triggered an existential emergency. Their goods from suppliers in China, France or Vietnam were landing in ports of Los Angeles, Houston, New York and New Jersey. But physically claiming these products suddenly required instant cash, tens of thousands of unbudgeted dollars. Some turned to a shady, largely unregulated corner of the financial world."
Small-business importers faced urgent cash shortfalls after tariffs forced unexpected payments at ports. Aggressive, often unregulated lenders inundated owners with texts, calls and WhatsApp messages offering rapid funding—high amounts, fast approvals, and promises of no fees. Desperate owners turned to these financiers to pay tariff bills and claim shipments. The lenders operate in a shadowy marketplace that previously targeted music venues and retail during economic crises. Loans can appear as lifelines but carry risks and can become traps, exposing already strained businesses to predatory terms and escalating financial danger.
Read at www.npr.org
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