I got Punk'd.

[Reel Deal]

Whoa there jimmym. There's the theoretical side of the law and then there's the practical side. If Lou wants to get his money back through legal channels he'd have to file a civil law suit against this person and, more than likely, he'd have to file it in the jurisdiction where this person lives. The cost of filing the suit, traveling to that jurisdiction to try the case and the cost of litigating the case would far, far exceed the amount he's owed.

In theory, yeah, I'm sure he'd love to sue this guy. In practice to do so would cost him a lot more than he'd receive in damages. The smart thing to do is exactly what he's doing... it's the fastest way to get his money back, and the least expensive route as well.

He can, of course, report this to the authorities (and he may well do that, I don't think he's said either way whether he will or won't), but it will then be up to them whether any criminal charges are brought.