It was a scam from the moment the scammer intended to scam.
Absolute nonsense!

A person can intent to scam, but finally do not scam.
You do not get sentenced for murder if you intended to kill someone, but never tried to do it!
Therefore a scam happens when the scam happened!

Asking two times if someone can lend BTC worth 10
is not a scam in the real world!

My suspicion substantiated when he asked me to borrow him 10. For the second time (September 3rd).