Such people just reckon that no one will do anything against them, but often when faced with a serious threat they completely change the story. In case the OP does not manage to get his money, he has the option to report the fraud to the police or to forget about the money and his friend. As I’ve already written, maybe he’s not the only one who lent money to his friend - and that could significantly change the situation if the matter ends up in police or court.