Thomas, first of all I have a GOOD reason to ask details about you. Myself, along wiht others thought you might have been someone else. No more, no less.
Why would you post on a forum that is read WORLD WIDE because someone told you to? that is the most rediculous thing I have ever heard. Post what YOU KNOW, not what someone on the other side of the damn country is telling you to post. To top it off, you said yourself that you have never seen him, spoke to him (on phone or in person), and that the ONLY contact you have had with him are form reading his posts and however many emails.
MY BEST FRIEND has been on this board before and I have told HIM that he does not handle himself well in SOME cases. I have known him via in person, phone, email, letters, family gatherings, etc. for 11 YEARS. I would not post what he told me to because he told me to. Unreal. I really am sorry you got in as deep as you did. Chalk this one up as a VALUABLE learning tool....regardless of who will be right when this is all settled.
With that said, I give you ALOT of credit. To me anyway it shows that you are a kind person that WILL help people, and unfortunately you do it at any cost. I give you credit for that.
I know people all over the country in this industry. It takes MANY phone conversations, emails, snake deals, or whatever before I decide they are someone I would stick MY neck out for. THis is a cut throat business and many people get stabbed in the back. YES, it has happened to me as well.