How did people in the past prevent identity theft? I mean before the photos and new secure technology on identity documents were available?
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In short, there was really no way to prevent it. But there were less incentives to actually commit identity theft back then and you had to be rather motivated to actually try. Which brings me to a fun story:
My dad was 15 and walking around the streets of Jersey City in the early 50’s and stumbled on an envelope from the NJ DMV; inside was a brand new drivers license(obviously no picture on it, just a name, address and license number – he still remembers the guy’s name, but I don’t).
What does he do, well, he does what any other bored fifteen year old who lives in a Italian slum, he runs off and joins the fucking the newly founded Air Force. He just walks in with this license he found in the street and signs up as this guy. And best part THEY LET HIM!
He goes off to bootcamp and makes it 90% of the way through. This is the part that most people question whether the story is real or not, but he has his platoon photo hanging on his wall to this day.
Best part, the only reason he got caught, his parents decided to look into where he disappeared to some 6 weeks after he left.
I hope this illustrates how little was done to prevent identity theft back in the day.
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