Letter of demand
Updated 2026-09-29
A letter of demand is a formal letter, usually from a lawyer, setting out what you are owed, why, and a deadline to respond before further legal action is taken. It puts the other side on clear notice and creates a paper trail showing you tried to resolve things first.
When it matters
Sending a letter of demand is often the first formal step in a civil claim against a scammer, and courts generally expect this step before a full lawsuit is filed. It rarely results in payment from a scammer directly, but it is still useful, since a failure to respond strengthens your case and can support later applications, such as a Mareva injunction if assets are at risk of disappearing.
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