Hi Everyone Good morning,đ i am glad and happy to be part of this experience, I came across a prompt on the ladies of hive community the two prompt are really wonderful and I could relate to them, so I decided to take on the first one.
My experience with friends havenât been so wonderful I recall back then in school
I had a close friend while in school we read together, most times he even ask for my help financially, I used to help him with food most of the times because back then I was doing a small business so I was assisting him the little way I could. But at a point I had to stop the business because of the stress but I had plans of starting another business that would be less stressful, I had made plans for my new business but was not going to start it immediately.
During that period I remember my friend always telling me of a business he recently started doing and how it has been helping him, Although I noticed because he was no longer constantly asking me for food and financial help so I was happy for him.
Over time he started telling me about the business almost like he was marketing it to me, subsequently he started convincing me to invest in his business since I was not going to start my new business immediately he convinced me to invest and make More profit which he said will be good to add to my new business I decided to give it a try.
I felt well itâs beneficial after all and in my mind I felt he genuinely cared because I have been good to him and of course he is my friend so I gave him the money to add and then pay me back with profit as promised. At that time I wasnât thinking anything because obviously he is my friend and I donât expect anything bad he insisted I give him cash because he needs cash which I agreed so after about a month he reached out to me about the business, he started telling me of how the business was not going well , I wasnât really asking him before because he told me the capital and profit will be ready in two months, after telling me this I wasnât happy so I told him to return my capital, he said okay.
Later that evening he called to tell me that even the capital is not complete currently, I wasnât comfortable so I told him to give me the one that was available at that time, adding that if he sells more he can complete it. I told him that I would like to start making plans for my new business which he agreed to , but after few days I didnât hear from him so i reached out but he pleaded that he needed to sell off and conclude the business although he claimed to be more concerned about giving me my money, he also claimed that his capital was also affected, so I felt pity and decided to give him more time. Exams were approaching he begged that after exams he would continue selling them off, Which I agreed because I mean I didnât suspect anything and I know how invested one can be trying to get ready for exam.
After exams he traveled home, I tried reaching out to him concerning our business deal but all he gave me was excuses then added that he wonât be able to give me fifty percent of my money at the time I needed it, I was still trying to understand what was going on when he added that he had family emergency but promised to use the holiday to get me my complete money.
After then I stopped hearing from him, I tried reaching him on his socials but it wasnât available at this point I was wondering if doing business with someone was a crime.
I linked up with a female friend one day and somehow I just decided to explain the situation, I didnât tell anyone before because I thought it was within my control and we are friends we will sort it, but I got shocked when my friend exclaimed how ?that this same person has been having the time of his life posting every time on his socials, I was like no he is not posting and thatâs why I have been feeling pity probably he is going through a lot.
she immediately showed me his recent post but I couldnât see them on my feed meaning that he blocked me across his socials. Seeing that he has been lying to me I felt really bad, tried calling him but he refused to pick up I also sent a text but he didnât respond. After sometime I started seeing his post so I chatted him saying and expressing how I feel regret because I have been good to him I told him I was going to involve the police and he told me where is my evidence that is it not cash I gave to him , that I should better calm down that business is bad and he will give me my money then the next thing was he deleted all the messages he sent to me before I could screenshot it that was when I knew he wanted to scam me for real, words could express how I felt my business money was gone but somehow I was hoping it was a prank and since that time he stopped replying my messages or taking my calls.
I gave up and stopped asking but it still surprises me that someone close to me could do that to me it feels like yesterday and Iâm still baffled. There was even a time someone reached out to me about this same guy collecting her money in the name of running a business, I still regret because how was I played to the extent I couldnât do anything! yes I was young and had a clear mind and intentions but I know I didnât handle things well at all , So he has been doing this to others and he saw me as another person to do it to and honestly he succeeded and I canât explain how he was able to walk away free, I know you would say I was naive and all but believe me I only trusted a friend and was betrayed I wish I had a second chance;
I would firstly stand firmly on business and not involve friendship.
Secondly I would have insisted on a transfer so I can have evidence because now I figured why he wanted cash.
Thirdly, I would have followed up the matter in the hit of the moment without listening to his excuses.
Fourthly, I would have requested for a written agreement with third party involvement as withness.
When I still remember it I feel sad,writing this experience even made me reminisce.
Thank you for listening.