It happened to me, and I understand the panic it causes. I joined a startup after college, got paid less than the minimum wage (no kind of equity in the company either) because I found out the financial situation of the company had been misrepresented to me by the co-founder, and I left with the work I hadn't been paid for as collateral (knowing they were going to let me work the month out and were unable and unwilling to pay me). I had my suspicions and I found this out by looking at their conversations on a forum on the server (which I had the root password to).
First thing they did was call the cops for "computer hacking". Cops laughed it off obviously. Then they went to their lawyer. They were desperate for money and thought they could exact revenge. Lawyers really know how to write scary letters and make it seem that you're in a world of trouble, I hope you're aware of that. Really what they're doing is trying to get you to reply to everything they throw at you, so that something can be used against you. They want an admission of guilt, and then they can force you to settle.
I sought free legal advice from a local charity, but they only operate once a month so I had to write back before then. I defended my actions and made allegations against them. Their response was always short, they would never address what I said to them, and they would always try to trip me up on what I said (poorly might I add, based on their poor understanding of technology). One lesson I learned from this is that nothing you say in those letters in your defence goes in your favour, it is only fodder that can be used against you.
The lawyer told me that when writing back to them I should put "without prejudice" on the letters, meaning the letter can't be used as evidence (this was not in the USA however!). Eventually I threw enough stuff at them about wages, their taxes and their activities, threatening to take them to the labour court, that I just stopped hearing from them. In the end they walked away with probably a $1500 bill from their lawyers and nothing to show for it. (good enough for them!)
In summary, don't panic, the lawyers are relying on you panicking. Get a lawyer. If you live in a sane country you can find a free one.
First thing they did was call the cops for "computer hacking". Cops laughed it off obviously. Then they went to their lawyer. They were desperate for money and thought they could exact revenge. Lawyers really know how to write scary letters and make it seem that you're in a world of trouble, I hope you're aware of that. Really what they're doing is trying to get you to reply to everything they throw at you, so that something can be used against you. They want an admission of guilt, and then they can force you to settle.
I sought free legal advice from a local charity, but they only operate once a month so I had to write back before then. I defended my actions and made allegations against them. Their response was always short, they would never address what I said to them, and they would always try to trip me up on what I said (poorly might I add, based on their poor understanding of technology). One lesson I learned from this is that nothing you say in those letters in your defence goes in your favour, it is only fodder that can be used against you.
The lawyer told me that when writing back to them I should put "without prejudice" on the letters, meaning the letter can't be used as evidence (this was not in the USA however!). Eventually I threw enough stuff at them about wages, their taxes and their activities, threatening to take them to the labour court, that I just stopped hearing from them. In the end they walked away with probably a $1500 bill from their lawyers and nothing to show for it. (good enough for them!)
In summary, don't panic, the lawyers are relying on you panicking. Get a lawyer. If you live in a sane country you can find a free one.