Contractor took my downpayment, and never started the work

[Akshay Johar]

Hello,

I am a remote investor, and I used a contractor to do a remodel of my house. 

This contractor took $3500 from me on December 2021 and didnt start the work (said he got covid, so i gave him a month to recover).

But it is middle of February, and I have not been hearing back from him, so it looks like he has run away with my downpayment.

What is my legal recourse to get this money back?

Note: I dont have his Contractor License number. He did not share that with me. 

thanks

Akshay

ps: i have used him before, and this is the first time this has happened.