Is it worth trying to get this money back?

[kaiteysmumma]

Back in July 2009, I lent my Ex £4,000, supposedly for a car. I took the cash out of my account and gave it to him in person (incredibly stupidly, as it turns out)

He said he was going to pay me back in October that year, and signed a paper, witnessed by a friend of mine, to that effect

Fastforward to April '10 and it turns out he was married, and had given me a false name to the one he signed with (literally a case of a few letters) The money went to pay his and his wife's mortgage arrears.

Is it worth me trying to recoup this from him? Does the letter he signed mean as little as I think it does? What would be the best way to go about trying to get it back?

omg the bastard Take him to a small claims court especially if your friend was there when he signed, regardless of the fake name he gave.

Sounds like it could be fraud. Have you gone to the police?

I agree that it sounds like fraud. You really do need to go to the Police.

Is it really fraud? How seriously would the police take it? I have his address.
I'm slightly worried about how stupid I was about the whole thing going against me.
I shouldnt have believed him when he said he didnt have a bank account and refused to lend if I couldnt do it by bank transfer. At least then there'd be a definite record of it.

Thanks for all your help guys. Am going to look into reporting him for fraud

Police would definetly take it seriously, or should do anyway.

I am looking into pursuing it via small claims first - should I go down the fraud route at the same time?

Go to the Police first, it's called 'obtaining money through deception.' Would you have lent him the money if he hadn't have signed the letter? I'm guessing not. He's misled you to obtain money and he's lied about his identity.

Be 100% sure your friend will back you up otherwise it's your word against your ex's.

Hi

The same happened to me in 2006, I wonder if it was the same guy!? This was for a "car" too. I was ever so ashamed that I was taken in. I think he was doing it to others, now.. when I think back. You are not alone. He took £1800 and promised to have it back by the next pay cheque. Yeah righto..

I didnt have anything more than my stupidity to blame but I did threaten to take him to the small claims and asked him where I should serve the papers at his home, work or parents (he had been stupid enough to show me his parents road end).

I ended up nearly getting all the money back but it took two years- he paid me in installments.

Good luck, dont give up.