"What groups are the biggest scoundrels in this situation
Banks'
I sent $US2000 to an Argentine bank (BANKBOSTON) in 2004 , when in the country I went to the bank to withdraw $US300 they had no record of the deposit transaction . I did a wire trace , for the deposit , sure enough it had gone to the bank , but seems the bank officials had stolen the money .
That and other lies by agriculture officials , that were proven by a lawyer (embarcadero) stopped me from buying agriculture land in Argentina . I can see why the country is still a mess - it is not investment grade .