I had this guy on the internet who I thought was a really great friend. We had known each other somewhat for about a year but never really talked until these past few months. We talked on mic and on the phone and emailed. He came into a bind stating his internet was going to be shut off and a utility bill because his retirement money never came that week. I of course felt bad and offered to loan him $500. He said no no but I insisted just once and he jumped on it. I sent cash via western union from the U.S where I live over to him in the U.K where he lives. He stated in an email and many of our yahoo conversations and on the phone that he would pay me back in a few weeks. A MONTH has passed and now he stated by Dec. 14th he'd pay me back. I have been sending emails because I haven't heard from him lately and I found out he's just deleting them without reading them. (I have his email password.)
How can I get my money back, any legal action when its a different country? NO BS pls
2007-11-28 03:29:35 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I also found out he did this with a few of my other friends in the chat that we go to. He stated the same thing to them about his internet being shutoff.
I really need the money back now as I barely am making paying my bills as it is.
2007-11-28 03:30:47 · update #1
That's sad. you're obviously a nice, caring person that has been taken advantage of.
In the furture, I recommend you take the position I now take. I Whenever I lend money it's with the expectation that I will never see it again. If I do, great. If not, then at least I didn't loan more than I could afford.
2007-11-28 03:45:24 · answer #1 · answered by Antioch 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, you have been scammed, sorry !! Unless there was some sort of a Promissory note, then there really isn't anything that you can do. Plus, he lives in a different country. The legal costs would far outweigh the money that this jerk owes you. Yes, this s***ks !! But, what is done is done. There are, actually, alot of scams that seem to originate from the UK but, are sent from Africa. It is best to cut your loss because, more than likely, you will not receive your money. Sorry, I wish that there was a way to get your money back. I hope that this helped some and Good Luck !!
Ruth
2007-11-28 05:19:58 · answer #2 · answered by Ruth 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have been scammed, it's unlikely that you will ever see your money again. In the UK it's possible to pursue an action in small claims court but you would need to do it in person. It would cost you more than $500 to get your money back.
You would also have difficulty proving he got the money as you sent it by Western Union, that is the least secure way to send money anywhere which is why it's popular with scammers. I'm afraid all you can really do is learn a bitter lesson from your experience.
2007-11-28 03:37:28 · answer #3 · answered by freebird 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry to say, but I dont think you will get your money back anytime soon. Unfortunately your friendship with him was worth sacrificing for $500. That is not a real friend.
Learn from mistakes and dont trust so easily, money makes the world turn evil.
He could be genuine and cant afford to pay you back, you could be funding a drug habit. That money could of gone anywhere.
You only hope is that he is a genuine person who one day will become rich, he will hunt you down and pay you back, then again this is a movie scenario. I bet this guy sits on the net talking to hundreds of people and asking for money.
2007-11-28 03:35:42 · answer #4 · answered by dowsann 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
For future reference, never loan that which you need or expect to get back. That way, if they repay you, great. If not, well you hadn't planned on it. That said, any legal recourse would be cost-prohibitive. You would have to prove jurisdiction, have him served, get a judgment, ATTEMPT to enforce it. The costs would be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Consider this money "tuition" for the School of Hard Knocks, and think about warning other mutual associates. Good luck.
2007-11-28 03:40:09 · answer #5 · answered by Jack 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sadly, you were lured in by someone who was "working" you.
Check with the webmaster to see if you can get their IP address, and report them to the website where you met. This might not get your money back, but it might protect someone else.
It's a shame the others he'd done this too didn't report him, or nothing was done about it.
Here's a site that will give you several links to report what has occured. http://www.parenthub.com/parenting/complaint.htm
Good luck, and in the future, be a little less trusting unless you can afford to give your money away. Momma always said "money lent is money spent".
2007-11-28 03:36:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It would be impossible for a local law enforcement agency to attempt to prosecute him.
Seem with any civil court. They just don't have jurisdiction over the UK. UK police won't get involved either over $500. That is the price you pay for dealing with people over the internet. Consider it a lesson learned.
2007-11-28 03:34:00 · answer #7 · answered by Kenneth C 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There really isn't a way to get your money back. He didn't steal it from you - you loaned it to him voluntarily - so you can't even press charges.
This is a pretty expensive lesson, but a good one to learn.
1) Never loan money to a friend
2.) The people you "meet" online aren't friends - they are strangers
Sorry!
2007-11-28 03:33:46 · answer #8 · answered by kelannde 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The money is gone. You were conned, and it's a $500 lesson in life.
2007-11-28 03:34:35 · answer #9 · answered by Teekno 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no way that you will see this money again unless he chooses to give it back. There isn't going to be an international investigation over $500.
2007-11-28 03:33:33 · answer #10 · answered by Brian A 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋