Debt collection email from US

Trigger79

I live in the UK. I've just received an email from a (legit I think) debt collector in the US, referring to someone with my name. 

I think they've possibly just guessed the email address, or it's a real person has given them my email address. 

It refers to someone with my name, and a physical address in California. 

Am I best ignoring it or replying and proving to them they have the wrong email address? 

My main concern is that I apply for ESTA with that email, and I would not want to be rejected if there are debts run up against it. 

Thanks for any help!

powerful_Rogue

If it's a legit company, just email them back.

No idea how debt collection works in the US and whether there are any links to ETSA.

user1977

It's probably just a typo. I doubt ESTA cares about debts anyway.

My email address keeps on getting mixed up with somebody in Michigan (apparently I had an appointment in Ann Arbor yesterday to pick up my new driving license...), some Harley Davidson fan in Florida (I've had a few emails from their bank), a Canadian who makes custom-printed hockey shirts, somebody active in the Mormon church in Australia, and briefly I was on a Californian school's parents mailing list.

Abbafan1972

This is odd. I would email them back. 

What is ESTA please? 

la531983

Abbafan1972 said:

This is odd. I would email them back. 

What is ESTA please? 

If you are ever going to the States, you apply for an ESTA. 

user1977

Abbafan1972 said:

What is ESTA please? 

It’s the visa waiver for visitors. But it’s criminal records they care about, not debts or other civil legal problems.

tightauldgit

Just email them back and say you think they have the wrong person but if they believe they haven;t then please provide evidence of the debt. 

user1977

tightauldgit said:

Just email them back and say you think they have the wrong person but if they believe they haven;t then please provide evidence of the debt. 

I would just leave it as they've got the wrong address, rather than get into correspondence about the debt.

prowla

Don't click on links in the mail.

I wouldn't reply to it either - that confirms to a scammer that you are there.

Trigger79

Thanks for the advice all, really helpful

@prowla I'm pretty sure it's not a scammer, the email address checks out and there are no tracking links or spoofing links in the email. 

I think on the advice I will email them back and just tell them they have the wrong email address. 

I really appreciate the advice, thank you all!

GrubbyGirl_2

I believe they are able to mask an email address and pretend it's the real one.  Forward the email rather than reply and type in the email address you get from their web site - do not simply press reply