Distant friend saying she will get a CCJ if I don't help her.

Even if it is her (and it may not be, scams can be very sophisticated these days), I wouldn't lend her the money.
Most likely, she's messaging anyone and everyone in the hope that someone helps.
That person doesn't need to be you. She needs to go to family, or MUCH closer friends.
There are maybe 4 people in my life that I would lend that sort of money to (and like you, I can afford it)... And a person I haven't text in 3 years, or seen in 5, would not be it.
Just a simple text will do, "Hi Jane, I'm sorry to hear that you're in financial difficulties. Unfortunately, I'm not able to help. Good luck in getting it sorted. Best wishes, OP."
If she continues to bother you, block.

Block and forget.
Have you spoken to her, or is it just texts. How do you know it's not just a boiler room in Lagos impersonating her?

Absolutely not.
I would be very unhappy if my husband was so silly as to consider this.

It also happened to my MIL. They set up a cloned FB account and were contacting random people she knew but who were the last people she’d contact asking for money if she was in trouble.

In any case, if it’s not a scam then, as others have said, the fact no one close to her is willing to help and she’s resorting to distant contacts is not a good sign.

You’re 100% certain it’s her messaging you, not her bf? (Call me cynical…)
Either way, obviously the answer is ‘no, and if you ask again I’m going to have to block you’ and then do so.
And make sure your DP doesn’t sneakily pay it! He sounds like his head buttons up at the back.

She’s exhausted all the people she’s closer to before coming to you.

That would be a no from me

A nice little cruise costs about that much this time of year. You were right to not get involved. And that hasn't been your friend in nearly 6yrs. Lots of people disconnected during lockdown and haven't mentally reconnected with the world since

She should contact the debt collection agency and arrange to pay it off. This will stop the CCJ

Nope, never a lender or borrower be.

I heard about this exact scam taking place on Scam Secrets on BBC Sounds. One poor bloke even fell for it and gave money to the scammers.

Nice...
So you could afford to give me a £1000? Technically speaking you could afford it right? I'm sure we might even know each other (7 degrees of separation and all that) and I'm very sure I could create a compelling reason.
Why on gods green earth you having money means you should give it to some random is beyond me. Give it to step change as a charity donation of you want to help people who struggle to manage money. It would definitely be more impactful.

A few years ago my email got hacked and I suddenly started getting contacted via other platforms by people I hadn’t had contact with in years, seeking confirmation that I was in crisis and needing financial help. They avoided contacting those closest to me, presumably because they’d be more easily able to check, and targeted a very random collection of people I was once close-ish with but hadn’t seen in a long time.

I know you said her ex confirmed it was definitely her, but are you sure he also knows for sure and wasn’t also scammed?

I'm glad you are sensible. Your DH on the other hand is a complete mug! Who on earth asks someone for a large sum of money they aren't even close to firstly? Mad.

Since you are distant friends I’d say she had used up the goodwill of her closer friends. I’d issue a firm no and block her.

That’s not correct. A court will often issue a CCJ when the defendant has offered payment terms.

I can’t just offer a pound a month on my mortgage and have the courts tell
the bank that that’s fine.

Don't give it to her!

This will end badly and the cheeky mare contacting you after all this time, to lend money.

You would be a fool to do this.

Hi, you did the right thing and you owe her nothing - her CCJ isn't your responsibility. She sounds entitled and you sound like a good person. Keep her muted /archived/blocked and continue living your best life x

Before this update I was going to suggest contacting her on another channel (FB, whatever) and warning her that some cheeky fucker scammer was using her number to try and get money from her contacts, but you know she'd never do something so weird and inappropriate so you were onto it straight away.

But as you know it is her, just reply no, I haven't spoken to you in years and I haven't got 2.5k lying around to pay your debts.

Keep an eye on your DH - in 30 years time he'll be that nice old man in the local news who loses everything in a pyramid scheme.

For goodness sake. Why are so many people still saying this when OP has made multiple posts saying that she and her DH have both been able to confirm that it's definitely the friend. Does no-one read threads (or even just OP updates) any more?

She can set up a payment arrangement like everyone else who gets into debt!!

It would be a hard no from me. Not your responsibility and it’s her debt to sort out. If she gets a CCJ that’s on her and clearly her closest family and friends have said no which tells you something

Why would you even think about giving money to some random person who has messaged you out of the blue after years? She’s not going to be beaten up by loan sharks she’ll get a ccj, she can use the next 6 years to sort her finances out

Well exactly. Added to the fact that no bank or loan company will touch her and it sounds as though she’s already borrowed money from everyone close to her and not paid it back.

I think you’ve made the right choice on saying no and muting the thread. I hope you do block her today.

I'd message back 'we are barely friends! The only time you contact me is for money. Be honest, you don't care how I am. You just want money. I really don't care if you get a CCJ. That's not my concern. You need to learn to manage your money. Please don't contact me again.' Then block.

Crazy request. Get her to contact step change.