Sounds like some fraud occurred which could be legally argued. Not with Seduction or a purchase as large as a car, I had a person take payment on a job that he never started or finished. He had lost his license to do business months prior and was broke, both with the business and personally. I sued both him and his company (to avoid a bankruptcy dodge) and won judgement but others that he had done the same to, filed criminal charges. That put him in jail, where making license plates isn't a paying job where he can return my money or have wages garnished. I will likely never see a dime of the $5K he owes me.
As someone who has experienced this, I feel awful for those who gave him money. I would love to give you some hope but it is a low probability of getting anything back. If putting him in jail would be some solace, better chances for that.