Angry Man Wants Premium Back, Gets Indicted Instead

Threat to badmouth firm in email blitz backfires
By Caroline Miller,  Newser Staff
Suggested by Disillusioned
Posted Apr 24, 2010 10:16 AM CDT
Angry Man Wants Premium Back, Gets Indicted Instead
New York Life logo

A guy who got mad at his insurance company and vowed to get even instead got indicted for 'cyber-extortion.' Anthony Digati, a 52-year-old California man whose claim was denied by New York Life, threatened to send out millions of emails criticizing the company if it didn't return his $50,000 premium by a certain date. And he wanted them to throw in an extra $150,000 for his aggravation. Oh, and he said the price would go up to $5 million after that date.

Digati wasn't exactly secretive about his desire for retribution, reports Wired, from its reading of the indictment. He emailed the demand to more than 1,000 New York Life employees adding: “Yes, I am crazy. Yes, I am vindictive. Yes, I am extremely upset. Yes, I will do everything that I said. I have absolutely nothing to lose or any fear of retaliation, no judge in the world is going to rule for a $200-billion company when there is a lonely customer that you stole from!” The FBI was not amused, and charged Digati with extortion, which could earn him 2 years in jail. (More cyber-extortion stories.)

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