Debt collection letter for debt you don't owe? What to do now

A letter arrives about a debt you don't remember, from a company you've never dealt with, for an account you never opened. For a growing number of people, that notice is how they first learn someone used their identity.

Complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) about attempts to collect a debt not owed rose about 115% above their prior two-year average in 2025, and many of those consumers reported balances they didn't recognize and suspected identity theft.

Before you panic or pay...