OK peeps, I don't know how or what to do about this, so here goes. I'm a member of several forums and have different usernames as such, to try and keep a level on anonymity, as we do on here.
A few years ago, I was on a public forum and had been for almost 10 years, one weekend, I was lucky enough to have a lottery win, not life changing, but it was the equivalent of 8 weeks wages for me and I wasn't on a great wage, I was over the moon. Sadly, after getting the numbers checked and the winnings claimed, I had the money stolen, I was gutted beyond belief. I mentioned this on the forum and someone suggested starting a fund and it was out to me, but I refused and left it at that. A few days later, I had a call from a friend who suggested I logged onto the forum, I did and saw that a fund was running, even though I refused it. I had a few more messages from those on the forum to accept and after a day or two, I did. I thanked all those who had donated and was amazed at the result. It was a superb gesture and I was truly humbled and grateful. A few weeks later, someone with a spiteful bent, decided that I was a liar and had said I'd lost the money in order to coerce, con, scam or any other word you can think to get money from people, nothing was farther from the truth. I offered the money back, but the majority of those who donated, did not want it back, it got to the point where I was so fed up of the crap, I had to go to the doctors to seek help. On my doctors advice, I left the forum, but before I did, I informed the members who had slagged me that I was a genuine and honest guy and I had given a lot of my own property to help others who were in need. I also informed them that I had not "conned" anyone or had had any intention to. I was told many times after I left, that I was still a point of hostility and my name was being dragged through the mud. I was no longer a member, so kept off it.
On Saturday gone, I was on another forum I've been a member of since 2007 and I happened to mention that I missed some of the people I used to have an "online conversation" with, a few joined in with quips like, " can you remember "? or " did a silly thing once". This seemed to set off a chain reaction of long lost memories. Then one individual questioned what I said, he asked if I was * *** on another forum, I asked why he wanted to know and he replied, you are the bloke who "conned almost £1,000 of money from honest hard working people". I was stunned by this accusation, so much, I haven't been back on it since. However, as I have friends on this forum, several have contacted me and told me what's been going on, claims of, "he scammed us" and "he told lies to coerce money from the members". I went to visit a friend who is also a member of this site and he logged into his account and showed me, there it is, as large as life and for all to see.
I've hardly slept for 3 nights and I've the feeling I'll be having another sleepless night tonight. Given this is all on an open forum, is it classed as libel or slander or do I have some other form of legal recourse against those who have made these claims and lies?
I can do without this kind of thing again and the last time it happened, I ended up in hospital, so you can understand my plight.
Do I go to the police and/or seek the advice of a solicitor?