agencies real or not

You should check out the telephone number from which the collection agency is calling you. If the number is blocked, there is a high chance that you are dealing with a con artist rather than a legitimate collection agency.

Always ask the collection agency to validate the debt for which they are calling you. If they can't validate the debt, they will stop calling you. Also, request the collection agency to send its request for debt payment in writing so that you may review it. A con artist won't provide you with a written prove.
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You should check your credit report while dealing with a collection agency. A real collection agency will often update the collection account in your credit report. A scam artist will be unable to report the account to the collection agency. [LEFT]
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Check with your state to see if they a licensed to collect there. Some states are what is called "open border", which means that no license is reauired. In that case, go back to the state where they are located to verify. As for getting something in writing, the FDCPA requires that a CA send a letter to you within 5 days of contact. Of course, you have to wait for the post office to deliver which could exten the time.