[jbm]

I loved this story but take issue with the framing. Dishonest reinvention of oneself is not a modern phenomena; my gut feeling is that this was a common occurrence. You have classic fictional books about the premise (IE the Count of Monte Cristo) which at least makes it sound like people used to feel the idea was plausible.

Rather, it strikes me that the ability to determine the lies is the real story here.

30 years ago, who would have questioned this, how would they have investigated this, and who would have paid the long distance bills for phone calls abroad?

[simonh]

There are many example of fantasists and con artists creating fake back stories for themselves. Casanova and Cagliostro are among the most famous examples. Affecting fake noble titles was a favourite ploy.

[mitjam]

In Germany the Captain of Köpenick is famous to this day as every child at one point reads Zuckmayers play based on this real story. In 1906 a shoemaker dressed up as a captain of the Prussian army, gathered some soldiers under his command, arrested the major and stole money from the city of Köpenick. He was arrested and served a sentence but became a folk hero and was pardoned by the Kaiser. (1) A striking parallel is the confident use of clothes and signs of authority.

(1) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Voigt