Here's something I often wondered. When a made guy or a connected guy are out shaking somewhere down, like a new bar or club or extorting other criminals etc, how to they show that there either in the Mob or connected? Like some people wouldn't catch on immediately its a mafia shakedown, they might think its a bunch of thugs. When these guys want to show who their connected to, how do they say it? Would they ever say I'm with the Gambino family etc? Obviously they wouldn't use the M word...
I always remember that Sopranos scene when chris gets jacked in the hood trying to score dope he says "do you know who I am?!, who I'm with?!"

I think you'd mention your captains name. He should be known in the neighborhood. If someone isnt familiar with the local crime scene, threats and an ass whooping should get the point across.

A bunch of thugs? What do you think Mafia members are? In a place like New York if a bunch of Italians try to shake you down, I'm sure everybody would know what organization they belong to.

"Mr. Gambino sends his regards, cawksucker!" *light cigarette* job done.

I'm talking about recently arrived immigrants, store owners etc from far tougher places than NY who might not realize its a big organization and try to stand up to a shake down initially.

Throwing out names is def not a wise thing to do. Especially not the boss´s name. It could get you killed.
Mobsters have a knack for finding who to shake down. Local business men on the edge of being illegal are often the ones who get victimized. "Joey the Mobster" often tell them to go and ask around in the neigborhood because "Joey the Mobster" often have a certain reputation on the street.

Mafia crews are very often locally based in certain areas. A wiseguy in Bellmont, the Bronx, will not go to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn to shake down a business man there. He is living off his reputation in his neighborhood where basically everyone already know who he is. If he doesn´t have a frightening reputation, or if the local business men doesn´t know who "Joey the Mobster" is, he should go looking for other ways to make money.

Without looking it up, I think Lefty Ruggiero would say something like 'Ask around about me. Lefty from Mulberry st. I'll come back in a couple of days'.

I think Mirra was similar but it's late and I'm not even sure where my copy of the book is.

Today though, like would many guys names ring out? I know they would in criminal circles but to a normal shop owner?

if you live in a neighborhood and you have your shop there you know whats' happen and who ask who
if youre new of the zone and you have not familiarity they tell you they ask money for the friends in prison or something to let you know theyre a big group the mafia
in south italy often shopkeepers who donesnt' know a zone ask who run it and they pay even before mafia ask something
in north italy if a couple of sicilians or napolitans came in your shop asking money let you understand they are connected to mafia