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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If you’re talking about way back in history, The Return of Martin Guerre (the book, not the movie) is an interesting case study of identity theft in 16th century France.
A guy named Martin Guerre went off to war, and when another guy came back with his identity several years later, his family claimed it was an imposter. They would have settled it by the family’s say-so, but Martin Guerre’s wife said the newcomer was the real guy. The author of the book said maybe she fell in love with the imposter, plus in those days it was a lot easier to survive if you had a good husband (apparentely the real Guerre was a jerk but the imposter wasn’t).
In those days, everyone had to rely on their personal memories to recognize someone (a portrait would only be available for the very rich). Historians think the wife maybe even coached the imposter on what to say about Guerre’s childhood, etc. But in the end, he was found guilty and hanged.
I got a fake ID when I was 16, just by taking an older friend’s birth certificate into the DMV. That was it. This was in Oklahoma, 1996.
Depends on how far back. Credit card companies used to just send you a card, and activating it was all it took to accept the offer. Shit was wild back then. Identity theft was more commonplace, yet in many ways, easier to unravel because companies didn’t have so many security layers that process it wasn’t you, so they had to take your word for it
Depends on how far back. Credit card companies used to just send you a card, and activating it was all it took to accept the offer. Shit was wild back then. Identity theft was more commonplace, yet in many ways, easier to unravel because companies didn’t have so many security layers that process it wasn’t you, so they had to take your word for it
Follow up question: Before photographs, how did any criminal ever get apprehended after the crime had been committed?
Depends on the era.
“Before photos” is a long time ago.
But basically you kept your documents safe. Hid them well at home or if wealthy kept them in safes, and contracts/property deeds in bank vaults.
If lost, you could get a copy of your records if you brought a priest, police or other “trustworthy” person to vouch for you along with any family records to get new ones.
Bring them with you as needed.
Identity theft was extremely rare, forgery was much more common as it was also safer. There were no databases to check for small time hustles like free travel, and banking required the physical receipts they gave out.
Depends on the era.
“Before photos” is a long time ago.
But basically you kept your documents safe. Hid them well at home or if wealthy kept them in safes, and contracts/property deeds in bank vaults.
If lost, you could get a copy of your records if you brought a priest, police or other “trustworthy” person to vouch for you along with any family records to get new ones.
Bring them with you as needed.
Identity theft was extremely rare, forgery was much more common as it was also safer. There were no databases to check for small time hustles like free travel, and banking required the physical receipts they gave out.
If you’re talking about way back in history, The Return of Martin Guerre (the book, not the movie) is an interesting case study of identity theft in 16th century France.
A guy named Martin Guerre went off to war, and when another guy came back with his identity several years later, his family claimed it was an imposter. They would have settled it by the family’s say-so, but Martin Guerre’s wife said the newcomer was the real guy. The author of the book said maybe she fell in love with the imposter, plus in those days it was a lot easier to survive if you had a good husband (apparentely the real Guerre was a jerk but the imposter wasn’t).
In those days, everyone had to rely on their personal memories to recognize someone (a portrait would only be available for the very rich). Historians think the wife maybe even coached the imposter on what to say about Guerre’s childhood, etc. But in the end, he was found guilty and hanged.
If you’re talking about way back in history, The Return of Martin Guerre (the book, not the movie) is an interesting case study of identity theft in 16th century France.
A guy named Martin Guerre went off to war, and when another guy came back with his identity several years later, his family claimed it was an imposter. They would have settled it by the family’s say-so, but Martin Guerre’s wife said the newcomer was the real guy. The author of the book said maybe she fell in love with the imposter, plus in those days it was a lot easier to survive if you had a good husband (apparentely the real Guerre was a jerk but the imposter wasn’t).
In those days, everyone had to rely on their personal memories to recognize someone (a portrait would only be available for the very rich). Historians think the wife maybe even coached the imposter on what to say about Guerre’s childhood, etc. But in the end, he was found guilty and hanged.
I got a fake ID when I was 16, just by taking an older friend’s birth certificate into the DMV. That was it. This was in Oklahoma, 1996.
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