I had one of those debt collectors call my cell phone. It was 702 area code which is Nevada.
I answered and he asked for me by name. I said, "What? Who is this? I don't know what you are talking about."
Then I hung up. He was shit out of luck since I did not acknowledge anything and kept him in the dark like a mushroom.
Now I have some guy that is 70 years old writing me about that debt. I gave him the address of the woman at court house and told him to write and she would write back with options for him.
Generally the way it goes is, "Submit your claim to the Probate Court or write it off. ;)