Good point @sevendst19 about checking the credit report. You are also correct on statute of limitations and things like that where if you do make a payment, even a very small one, you can bring an old expired debt back to life.
This case is from last year when he had to go to the local stand alone emergency room for some stitches, he buried an ax head in his leg just above the ankle.
I wanted to use this as a teaching experience for him in teaching him that when in doubt about whether or not you owe a debt make them prove their claim. If it is a legitimate claim they should have no problem producing the records and transcripts from what the doctors supposedly did for him.
I may have him check his credit report after we go through this process, but he needs to learn the steps he needs to take so he can be able to do this on his own in the future should he need too. Like you said, so many people will just in a payment if the amount isn't real hefty without ever even thinking about it, and as long as people continue to that the scammers will continue to send out bogus claims.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing some good information.