To say no?

[AyeAyeFishyPie]

I don’t think i am but I need some reassurance!

DH and I moved last summer. We joined the local church and have been regular attendees since. There is a man who seemed very lonely and has sort of latched onto us slightly. He has invited us to a different church (we went), come round unannounced on a saturday lunchtime for company (DH weasn’t here, he came in and had about half a bottle of wine) and invited us to his 70th birthday. He has told us that he has had a criminal conviction, we don’t know what for. He is very open that he struggles for money, but there are mentions of holidays and things which seem extravagant if he is as skint as he suggests he is.

To be clear - I don’t particularly get on with him but I would feel hypocritical going to church and ignoring him.

He has now approached us to be a guarantor for a 2k loan. Apparently the vicar is the other one. We asked for details and said we would think about it. He has now emailed DH with details and a ‘thanks for agreeing to do this’ note. Money makes me anxious so I know I may be being odd but every part of me is saying ‘don’t do it’. However I hate things being awkward.

For context - if he defaulted 2k wouldn’t ruin us, however we have our first baby on the way.

mokoto yes he emailed back he must have 'misheard' - but he sounded ok. I genuinely think he is straight but dreadful with money.

i don't really want to comment about what the vicar said as it was said in confidence but yes he was unhappy with the man not us .

Ah sorry, I thought the vicar wasn’t happy with you for not helping the (con)man!

I worded it terribly - don't worry!

Sounds like really bad news. I would break off all contact and tell him you don't wish to speak to him again. Don't feel bad about it. He should never have asked the question in the first place.

I think the vicar is having the wool pulled over his eyes. I still think this is a con artist, because his wife is entitled to a DLA/PIP car.

You have nothing to be ashamed of, even if he is dreadful with money, you are in no position to stand guarantor. You were truthful. His wife can get PIP immediately if she is terminal.

Your being scammed he's a fraudster. You are being set up call the police he's probably done it before

This man sounds like someone I know. He is of similar age, has been in prison a few times (once for stealing from my father and another time that I know of for fraud) and is creepily charming. He has stolen from his mother, charmed a girlfriend’s family out of money (said he would invest money for them and took it himself), and ruined the life of another lovely lady who unfortunately married him and subsequently found that he had spent all her money and lied to her, to his employer and to the bank. He is a compulsive liar who purports to live a comfortable lifestyle but with apparently no income to support it. Please trust your gut instinct.

He is trying to take advantage of you. Please don't fall for it. I wouldn't be surprised if he had done it before. He probably thought you were an easy target being new to the area. And why would someone with terminal cancer need a new car?

And that's if his wife really does have terminal cancer

Op this man is not straight. He has done this many times in his life. His way of operating on you is just too well practiced foe a poor bloke useless with money. He is a thief. I am sure he is useless with money, possibly a gambling problem. Keep him out of your life.