Debt collectors don't always win but they have better odds of getting your money back than any other legal means.
I never said I was 100% certain it would work but arguing about it on an internet forum isn't going to settle anything.
You are also forgetting that debt collectors will demand proof that you are really owed what you claim you're owed.
I said give debt collectors all the information and let them sort it out. It's the best chance of getting anything but I never said it was a certain thing. If the person the claim is against never existed, or went bankrupt, or can't be found, or if the claim can't be proved to a standard required by law then nothing is going to work anyway.
I suspect Zhou Tong broke a bunch of laws by not keeping financial records safe and not exercising due diligence but IANAL and could well be wrong. I know for a fact my company has to keep all financial records for 5 years, not having a backup isn't an excuse.