> Not sure about parent comment, but I am in Europe and identity theft is basically non-existent. And I'm not sure why is that.
This perception likely comes from your selection of news sources. Identity theft is not unique to the United States.
Stories like the linked one are not common at all. The rarity is actually why it’s a noteworthy news story.
> Also document forgeries are not a thing (when I see TV shows where teenagers try to buy alcohol using a fake driving license that really feels "American").
Again, TV shows are not representative of what happens in the real world. We have far more advanced IDs than decades ago when they were more easily spoofed. We also have routine undercover checks against gas stations and grocery stores where agents attempt to purchase alcohol with fake IDs. Depending on the state, the penalties for failing to check obvious fake IDs can be quite significant including suspending your ability to handle checkout jobs for a period of time.
American news media and TV shows are not representative of daily life here.
Some European countries have quite good governmental registers of the population, perhaps making it more difficult to "fake it"? It happens, of course, but gets more difficult when everything is connected
This perception likely comes from your selection of news sources. Identity theft is not unique to the United States.
Stories like the linked one are not common at all. The rarity is actually why it’s a noteworthy news story.
> Also document forgeries are not a thing (when I see TV shows where teenagers try to buy alcohol using a fake driving license that really feels "American").
Again, TV shows are not representative of what happens in the real world. We have far more advanced IDs than decades ago when they were more easily spoofed. We also have routine undercover checks against gas stations and grocery stores where agents attempt to purchase alcohol with fake IDs. Depending on the state, the penalties for failing to check obvious fake IDs can be quite significant including suspending your ability to handle checkout jobs for a period of time.
American news media and TV shows are not representative of daily life here.