Why you cannot ignore it — even though it is not yours
This is the trap: the debt is not yours, so ignoring it feels safe. It is not. If there is a lawsuit and you do not respond, the court can enter a default judgment against you — the real you — for the fake account. Then the garnishments and levies land on your real paycheck and your real bank account.
Being innocent does not win the case automatically. You have to show up and say so, the right way, on time. In California, that usually means responding within about 30 days of being served — the exact deadline depends on how you were served.
What we do for identity theft victims
- Respond to any lawsuit on time and raise identity theft as a defense
- Help you build the record that wins these cases: an identity theft report, a police report, and sworn statements
- Use California's identity theft laws, which give victims real tools against claims based on fraudulent accounts
- Dispute the account with the collector and demand they prove it is yours
- Push to correct your credit reports so the fraud stops following you
Federal law also helps: collectors must verify a debt when you dispute it, and credit bureaus must block information that resulted from identity theft when you send the right documentation. We know the rules they must follow, and we use them.
Talk to a California debt defense lawyer
Not sure where you stand? Start with a free case review — we will read your papers and explain your options in plain language.
Get Your Free Case ReviewWhen the collector just has the wrong person
Not every wrong-person debt is identity theft. Sometimes a collector matches a name, or an old address, and starts calling you about a stranger's debt. You dispute it; the calls keep coming.
You have rights here. Federal and California law forbid collectors from harassing you or trying to collect from the wrong person after you dispute it. Collectors who keep going can end up owing you money — statutory damages plus your attorney fees. That flips the leverage.
Get your name back
This is what the doves on our logo mean: getting free of the collectors, the calls, and the fear — and getting your name back. A fraudulent account does not have to define your credit, your paycheck, or your peace.
Bring us the letters, the court papers, and anything you know about the account. We will map out a plan in the free case review.
Common questions
What should I do first if I am sued over a fraudulent account?
Calendar the response deadline and get legal help right away — you have about 30 days in most California cases, depending on how you were served. Then start documenting: an FTC identity theft report and a police report are powerful evidence.
Do I have to pay while the dispute is pending?
Do not pay anything on a debt you believe is fraudulent before getting advice. A payment can be treated as an admission that the account is yours and can affect your legal position.
A collector keeps calling me about someone else's debt. Can I make it stop?
Yes. Dispute the debt in writing and tell them they have the wrong person. If they keep collecting anyway, they may be violating federal and California law — and may owe you damages. Keep every letter and a log of every call.
