If restricting newbie to post in lending board is too harsh, it's better if the moderators to consider give a temporary ban like a week or two weeks due to spamming. Forum is too friendly for trolls and spammers.
I would also add jr members as well as newbies being banned from posting in the lending section (and there would be a case to make for the currency exchange section being added to that list, too).
Why should restricting on currency exchange section? I don't see any reason about it, the old or high rank user can ask the newbie to send first or using an escrow. Just be careful if you exchange with PayPal and such which the payment could be revert.
Like the popular saying goes: difficult times demands difficult decisions.
I don't see this matter is a difficult time and the suggestion isn't a difficult decision.