Afni Collections Sent me a bill from 10 years ago for a phone, saying I owe 4829.84 Ripoff Bloomington Illinois

I received a bill from Afni collections in Bloomington IL for Verizon Maryland for $4829.84. I called them and a guy name Lawrence told me it was back in 1998. I didn't move to Maryland until 1999. I told them that it wasn't me. I told him wouldn't Verizon cut off your phone way before it got that high. He told I have to make an arrangement payments or file a fraud report. Today I received the fraud information that he sent me and another collection notice from them for Cingular. I just want to know is this a real company or what and can they do this?

Nerissa
Washington, District of Columbia
U.S.A.