Yes and no...once money is sent via a Fed Funds wire...its gone...you can pound your fist, jump up and down and it cant come back...wish my X was that easy.
This is why everything must be documented in writing, pictures, and signed...and it does not hurt if you know where the other person lives. If said bonehead vanishes overnight with the money, bike its on me but the recourse is he has to surface sooner or later. Google is a great thing, it makes it very easy to find someone and see if they are some fly by night crook or one that stays at the same address...yet still may be a crook. If this guy was "staying at a buds house" and had no roots...no freakin way would I sent a wire. Initially I had a bank check but this bonehead changed his mind so the money went back into the bank, its about a 40 mile ride for me to go to the bank and get another check, this is why I did the wire......I should have the bike by 4:00 pm tomorrow...Its going to be a sleepless night, like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.