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

Complaints to the CFPB about debt collection for unowed debts rose 115% in 2025, with many cases involving suspected identity theft. Debt collectors use outdated contact information and data-broker profiles to target individuals, often based on breached data, while federal laws like Regulation F and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provide consumers with dispute rights and validation requirements.