Do they work in the same way as duas ?
Re: Bad'ua
in Islam, a Muslim is encouraged to avoid giving bad-du'aa because Prophet [s.a.w.s.] only on rare occasions gave bad-du'aa [when 70 Hoffaaz and aalim ul Deen were invited by Kuffars to explain Islam to them and they, by deception, killed all the 70 of them...it was a very serious issue which great ramifications]...
so, you may give bad-du'aa but the reason for it must be very serious and you have honestly been hurt...again, if you could forgive, it would be better for you in the hereafter. you must be balanced in your bad-du'aa...i.e. you can NOT wish death to someone who did NOT return a large sum of money or caused loss in a business.
the best thing is that you pray for the person by saying "may Allah give this person hidaaya so he/she can understand what a great harm he/she has caused to me..."