Sure, don't tell them what you're earning. Tell them what it would take to get you to leave... plus 15% for the inevitable downward negotiation with the manager. If your current employer is unwilling to pay you what you think you're worth, you have an obligation to yourself to go into the market and find compensation that matches your expectations. With few exceptions, compensation discussions with your current employer should be mutually exclusive from compensation discussions with other firms. Businessmen don't want to get into bidding wars when they can avoid it.
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Sure, don't tell them what you're earning. Tell them what it would take to get you to leave... plus 15% for the inevitable downward negotiation with the manager. If your current employer is unwilling to pay you what you think you're worth, you have an obligation to yourself to go into the market and find compensation that matches your expectations. With few exceptions, compensation discussions with your current employer should be mutually exclusive from compensation discussions with other firms. Businessmen don't want to get into bidding wars when they can avoid it.