[hwertz]

Nope, I read The Register (UK based) and they've had scandals from celebrities having their confidential SMS messages leaked; SMS spoofing; I think they even have SIM cloning going on every now and then in UK and some European countries. (since The Register is a tech site, my recollection is some carriers took technical measures to prevent these issues while quite a few didn't.)

I don't think it's a thing that happens that often in UK etc.; but, it doesn't happen that frequently in the US either. It's just a thing that can potentially happen.

[throwaway2990]

UK has plenty of other problems to solve first with identity thief.

[croemer]

...where identity is proved by utility bills instead of government issued id

[doubled112]

How else do you prove you live some place?

“I pay the bills there” is barely better than nothing, though. We do this in Canada too. It is what I used for a driver’s license one renewal.