[phil21]

> I can't speak to how common something like this is but you do typically need to be served with the summons, or the plaintiff needs to show some sort of proof that you received the notice

I can, somewhat. I also had a similar situation (although much less serious) where I was supposedly "served" paperwork.

Basically process fraud is endemic in the debt collection "industry" - from the brief research I did years ago. I won my case mostly off this and the judge being sick of having to grant default judgement to these "pocket filers".

Some states are far worse than others due to laws such as pocket filing, etc.

The real problem is there is no real fear of punishment from a process server lying to the court. The worst I've seen happen is someone lose their job.