Bi guy here.  I use grindr.  On Jan 30th I encountered someone who is just my type, a type that normally doesn't have much to do with a sad old fat guy.  To my amazement, he responded to my message, but lo and behold... he wanted money for his "phone bill", a line I bought for a few minutes. Normally I don't engage with these guys on grindr but I was honestly a little desperate.

So, we worked out an amount.  And, having been burned before even WITHOUT money, I asked if he had an issue with half via Venmo now and the rest when he showed up.  He said it wasn't an issue.  So I sent half.  And waited.  Aaaaaaand waited.  

"Are you on your way?"
"About to be," followed by other questions.

Crickets.

90 min later, "You're not coming, are you?"
"Sorry, got blocked in the driveway."

Three times after that we tried to meet again.  Each time, stood up.  Now, really I'm a pretty patient person.  I've been known to give 10th even 20th chances to people. But now I'm just fed up and I want my money back.  I sent a request via Venmo the other day, which prompted a near-immediate response on grindr from him trying to set another date.  

"Sorry about last night I fell asleep."

"I expect to be paid back by the end of the week."

"I genuinely fell asleep," a blatant LIE, as I could see he was definitely online and active during our designated time.

"I expect to be paid back by the end of the week."

Today I sent another Venmo reminder and a message on grindr,  "I expect to be paid back by end of day Sunday."

Now, I know the following:

- he's not a pro.  Pros don't (usually) use their real names in their Venmo profiles OR have facebook and/or Instagram profiles under the same

- his pictures are real so I doubt he's a catfish.  from what little there is on FB, Insta and even his pic on Venmo, what he sent/displays on grindr is likely really him.  Zero results from TinEye and reverse image searches as well.

- I potentially know his address after I did some digging around. I may or may not have a phone number or two that if called or texted may make an impact.  I don't want to be an asshole though and out him to family (I think one of the phone numbers might be his dad's, and looks like he lives at home, too) or threaten him with anything really since I don't know what is saved on his phone that he could potentially retaliate with. Plus I'm just not that person.

So, from you the pros and the community at large, OTHER than not paying 25-posing-as-21-year-old twinks on grindr for cuddles and makeout (to say the least of anything else), what do I do? Have I any ground here? I really don't want to involve LE but I'm..... toying with making an anonymous tip about theft or at least saying as much. And I DEFINITELY don't trust him enough at this point to try and work anything out in terms of meeting up; not that I'm afraid of him, I just don't trust him to show.  

My membership here is basic so emailed replies will languish in oblivion.  Please reply on the thread. Thanks very much in advance any and all for your time and CONSTRUCTIVE replies.