Debt collectors deploy many scare tactics such as criminal charges, legal action and may even say they can place a lien on assets. Fact of the matter is most are violating the law and can find themselves in hot water. They attempt to collect debts some as old as a decade and threaten certain actions. They pretend to be lawyers, law enforcement and even representatives of the judicial system. They can be vulgar, very aggressive and rude. You have rights if a debt collector is threatening anything other than a civil suit seek the aid of your states attorney general because they may very well be violating the law and can be sued for damages.