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I once was called by a collection agent for state taxes (private company contracted by the state). While I knew my taxes had been paid, I was indeed delinquent

I once was called by a collection agent for state taxes (private company contracted by the state). While I knew my taxes had been paid, I was indeed delinquent in FILING my taxes, and apparently they hadn't connected the taxes paid on my W-2s with the income on my W-2s (?!). According to the agent if I didn't give him the info from my checking account while I was on the phone, he'd hit the button and start garnishing my wages, freezing my credit, etc. He refused my every effort to say I needed to check my balances, etc and get back to him. I was living paycheck to paycheck at the time. This was a very real threat - that it would all work out was NOT the same as not being a problem. Yet - this was entirely legal (AFAIK(. He was lying - he didn't have the authority to do those things - but he could make the threats. He put me in such a panic that I was calling the Tax agency hourly, leaving messages and faxing details. By the time I got through to a manager that could tell me my status she responded to my greeting with "Oh yes, I know who you are Mr. [REDACTED]". A terrible experience all around. It was a threat to induce action, but neither extortion nor blackmail.

GlenTheMachine 8y ago
This is even worse because has the same bones as a well known telephone scam.
blattimwind 8y ago
> A terrible experience all around. It was a threat to induce action, but neither extortion nor blackmail. Pretty sure that would be illegal under, for example, German law (§ 240 StGB, Nötigung); delivering a threat in order to have you do something (or not do something) that, when implemented, would create an [severe] disadvantage, is punishable even if you could not actually implement the threat (like the guy in your story).
PhasmaFelis 8y ago
A private company demanded your financial info and made false threats? You might have trouble proving it in court, but there's got to be something illegal in there. Threatening to do something that they can't legally do, at the very least.

GlenTheMachine 8y ago

This is even worse because has the same bones as a well known telephone scam.

blattimwind 8y ago

> A terrible experience all around. It was a threat to induce action, but neither extortion nor blackmail. Pretty sure that would be illegal under, for example, German law (§ 240 StGB, Nötigung); delivering a threat in order to have you do something (or not do something) that, when implemented, would create an [severe] disadvantage, is punishable even if you could not actually implement the threat (like the guy in your story).

PhasmaFelis 8y ago

A private company demanded your financial info and made false threats? You might have trouble proving it in court, but there's got to be something illegal in there. Threatening to do something that they can't legally do, at the very least.