The true fact is the following. Consider
$$\zeta(s) := \sum_{n=1}^{+\infty} \frac{1}{n^s} \quad \mbox{with $s\in \mathbb C$ and } Re \:s >1\:. \tag{1}$$
That function, with the said complex domain, is well defined (the series absolutely and uniformly converges) and is a complex analytic function. As a consequence of a well-known theorem on analytic functions, it is possible to extend $\zeta$ outside its original domain into another complex analytic function with a larger domain. Generally speaking, this extension is locally unique. With this extended definition and domain, (1) does not necessarily hold.
As a matter of fact, it is possible to prove that $\zeta$ admits a unique complex analytic extension on the whole complex plane $\mathbb C$ except the point $s=1$, where there is a singularity (a simple pole) which cannot be eliminated even assuming continuity only (which is a much weaker condition than analyticity).
Summing up, there is a unique complex analytic function $\zeta : \mathbb C \setminus \{1\} \to \mathbb C$ satisfying (1) in the open set $Re\:s >1$, it does not satisfy (1) in the rest of its domain, in particular $\zeta(1)$ cannot be defined.
Identities like
$$\sum_{n=1}^{+\infty} \frac{1}{n^s} = -\frac{1}{12}\quad \mbox{if $s=-1$}.$$
do not make sense in any cases, because the series in the LHS does not converge for $s=-1$ (evidently!). They make sense referring to the analytic continuation of the originally defined function $\zeta$. In this precise sense, for instance when computing the determinant of unbounded operators with discrete spectrum, are useful in quantum (field) theory.
ADDENDUM. These properties of $\zeta$ are shared by other similar functions constructed out of the spectrum of some elliptic self-adjoint operator like $A:= -\Delta$, defined on a compact Riemannian manifold:
$$\zeta_A(s) := \sum_{\lambda \in \sigma(A)} (m_\lambda \lambda)^{-s}\:.\tag{2}$$
Above $m_\lambda$ is the geometric multiplicity of $\lambda$ which is always finite if $A= -\Delta$ also including perturbations, in compact Riemannian manifolds.
Formally speaking, $\det A$ is proportional to the partition function of a QFT admitting the Lorentzian version of $A$ as operator of field equations, and when the Euclidean continuation of Lorentzian Killing time gives rise to compact orbits with period $\beta$ (the inverse temperature). The Killing time is the one used to define the static vacuum and the associated thermal (KMS) states. Formally
$$\det A = \prod_{\lambda\in \sigma (A)} m_\lambda \lambda\:.$$
However, that productoria generally diverges. Nevertheless the analytic continuation procedure works. Formally (I omit $m_\lambda$ for the shake of simplicity)
$$\zeta_A'(0) = \frac{d}{ds}|_{s=0}\left(\sum_{\lambda \in \sigma(A)} \lambda^{-s}\right) = -\sum_{\lambda \in \sigma(A)} \ln \lambda = -\ln \prod_{\lambda\in \sigma (A)} \lambda\:.$$
Thus one can define
$$\det A := e^{-\zeta_A'(0)}\tag{3}\:,$$
provided $\zeta_A'(0)$ exist. In general it exists just in the sense of analytic continuation. I mean that the function in (2) turns out to be well defined and analytic for $Re \:s > c_A$ for some real $c_A$ depending on $A$. Moreover that analytic function can uniquely analytically be extended on the whole $\mathbb C$ except for a discrete set of points defining an extended complex analytic function (actually meromorphic). That set does not include $s=0$. Therefore definitions like (3) are safe, at least in principle.
This method can be generalized to compute more complicated objects like the one-loop (thermal) renormalised stress energy tensor in curved spacetime and, it is possible to prove that the procedure is equivalent to more popular ones like the so-called point-splitting method. (I spent part of my initial career dealing with these interesting topics.)