My friend got a 4000€ bill from a collecting agency - identity theft

In the US, a person is not responsible for any fraud against them, just have a handwriting expert view the signatures and they will be free.

Last Edited by BRIEF on 03/08/2016 08:36 AM

He needs to immediately make a police report, and then DO NOT acknowledge any of the debts, nor pay anything toward them. Send letters to all credit bureaus & the collection agencies that his identity has been stolen.

I wish him luck, this will be a painful mess.

That's exactly what he needs to do. The loans require a lot of work, because they've been taken through a cell phone account. You buy a cellphone account with false id and start texting to companies that give small loans (500-600€) with high interest straight away. The loan is payable to any bank account and the phone subscription works as your signature. So, first he has to prove that the subscriptions (also obtained under his name) were bought with false id, before he can tackle the loans.

Yup, it's really not that big of a deal. First make a police report for stolen ID, then send a cease and desist order to the bill collectors and force them to sue you. When you go to court, request a handwriting analysis proving you didn't sign for the phone nor any other loan or purchase, and you're off the hook. Send all correspondence by certified mail requiring a signature for its receipt.