In every corner of the world, borrowing money is a fundamental part of life. We take out loans to start businesses, buy homes, or even just to get by. While banks are the go-to lenders for many, riskier options exist on the margins—payday loans, private lenders, and quick-cash schemes. These alternatives promise fast money but often come with hidden costs that can spiral into a cycle of debt and despair.…
With stolen identities and forged ID cards from Kosovo and Albania, perpetrators siphoned money from quick-loan companies in the country. Innocent citizens—among them mentally disabled individuals and displaced persons—were left to face the consequences of a crime they didn’t commit. Reported by: Aleksandra Denkovska Gocevska Marija Kostovska is a 44-year-old woman from Skopje who works in a well-known wholesale drugstore, or beauty shop. When her working day is over,…