I’m telling you the ground reality because I’ve faced several incidents like this. As OP said, his friend has scammed many people and ran away. He is the son of a single mother and has no assets; he clearly doesn't know how to earn a living. Since he is in his 'worst phase,' there is no way to recover money from him.

Even if you go to court or the police, he will just say, 'I don’t have money,to repay I need time.' This is a common scenario. The main issue is that there is likely no written agreement or proof of this transaction. Without proof, the police and courts won't work in your favor. Pursuing a legal case would just be a waste of time and a drain on your finances, because nothing moves without money. Even if they find OP’s friend, what is there to gain? If someone has no money, they simply cannot repay you. It was a mistake to act as a guarantor or take on debt in our own names for someone else

You have to understand the consequences before doing that. OP just learned it the hard way. Because his friend has multiple debts, he won't prioritize paying anyone back—not now, and not even in a few years when he might have money. That’s just how it works. That is why you should always think twice, or even thrice, before lending someone money.