MIL got a notice from a "collection agency" about an outstanding debt from american express. Of course she freaked out, and thought it was real. She pays off her debt in full every month, and this particular card has not been used in a long time. The collection agency had her entire cc #. But I had to convince her it was not real bc if you default on your cc bills, the actual cc company will send you letter after letter after letter before sending out to collections (guess how I know
) BIL called the number and told them to send them a copy of the bill to see if it was valid. They said that WE were supposed to do that. BIL said no way, you guys find it out, I'm not doing anything, you guys have to prove it. They called him back a few days later from a local #, not a 800 number, which was beyond fishy. He said the same thing, and they have not contacted us again since.
Another time, I got a call from "verizon" saying I owed them money. I said you guys have to send me the bill to prove it bc we use at&t and have never used verizon ever. Never heard from them again.
They have to prove you owe the debt. Until they can, just tell them to go screw themselves.