I’m in a really difficult situation right now and I honestly don’t know what my next step should be.

I run a small business, and recently I got scammed by someone I trusted. Because of what happened, I lost the funds that were supposed to cover my customers’ orders and refunds.

The hardest part is that my customers are now requesting refunds. I completely understand why they’re upset, and I don’t blame them at all. If I were in their position, I’d probably feel the same way.

The thing is, I’m not refusing to refund anyone. I’m 100% willing to do it. I just don’t have the extra money right now because everything was wiped out by the scam. I’ve already explained the situation to everyone as honestly and transparently as I could.

Some customers have been very understanding and are willing to wait, which I’m incredibly grateful for. But others are understandably angry and are demanding immediate refunds. I’m scared because I genuinely don’t have the means to pay everyone back at once.

I feel guilty, stressed, and overwhelmed. I haven’t been sleeping well because I keep thinking about how to make this right. I never intended to put my customers in this situation.

Has anyone here experienced something similar as a small business owner? How did you handle it? Is there anything I can do to rebuild trust while I work on paying everyone back?

Please be kind. I know I’m responsible for resolving this, and I’m not trying to avoid accountability. I’m just looking for advice on how to get through this without making things worse.