Is it roughly the same to "prove" your identity in the US as it is in the UK? In the US, at least for most credit checks, you just need your SSN, some public record data about where you've lived, and personal data (name, DOB, etc).
It's largely because there is no "National ID" system in the US (due to political reasons). That makes it hard for companies to track people, and the SSN is the only number that people consistently have.
Are there any examples of countries where their government is getting this right and eliminating stupid fraud?
None of it is mandatory - there are plenty of people in the US without any government provided identification and it costs money to acquire such an ID.
The only one you can't really dodge is a birth certificate.
An ID certainly makes those things easier, but a government issued photo ID is not actually required for any of them. Like I said in my original comment, the only things that absolutely require an ID are international travel and driving. If you do neither of those, then you might not have an ID.
The US doesn't have good standards around this for everyone, for a variety of reasons.
You can use an SSN to map to an existing credit file. From there, you establish accounts with places with poor verification practices and use them to move up the food chain.
Some states historically were very week in verification for state ID -- best case you have an audit able link between a birth certificate, lease and/or parental affidavit. Few people can be linked to a biometric. (Other than headshot photo)
IDs are not mandatory at either the State or Federal level in the USA.
The most common type of identification is a State driver's license, but there are also alternative non-driver license ID cards available. None of these IDs are mandatory, but are nearly required to live in modern society (open a bank account, drive a car, vote, etc).
Passports are a federal ID, but they’re not mandated in the same way that other countries like Estonia mandate national IDs.
SSNs? Sure, they’re (optionally) used as an identifier. But they’re primarily used in the financial world, along with your credit score. Most state and federal agencies won’t require an SSN for official business (again excepting taxes & payments). A hotel will accept a Global Entry card for check in. UPS will accept a non-driver’s license to pick up a package. You can vote with a student ID in some states.
And don’t forget people who are undocumented immigrants or on F-1 and J-1 visas who don’t even have a SSN, but still need to open US bank accounts, pay taxes, get US driver’s licenses, and vote in municipal elections.
Most people don't even have two forms of photo id in the US. Usual identification for jobs involves deeds/bills (no photo), pay stubs (no photos), social security (no photo, usually), and birth certificate (no photo).
The only major form of photo ID is a state/driver's license and passports and I think only 30% of the US has Passorts. It's such a big country that you can reasonably never require it and still travel more than the average EU citizen.
You can also fill out a form with your employer to get a photo form of employee authorization, but you're Sol of you're freelance/gig economy.
They should require several forms of photograph identification such as a drivers license and/or passport. That would make it more difficult to open a line of credit or get a loan, but it would definitely cut down on fraud.
Yeah, the minimum you need to participate in US society is SSN, driver’s license number, working cell phone number, credit/debit card, health insurance, car, car insurance, proof of citizenship, permanent address, internet connection and W2 or equivalent.
I’ve needed all of these sans the car to interact with just government services in my state.
Yea, but that's specifically the only one that isn't optional. Almost all other forms of ID are voluntary as long as you understand that voluntary means you accept not participating in some privileged activities (like driving a car on a road for a drivers license).
The US is actually insane about how little identification they require from residents and also not great about how expensive it can be to acquire certain forms of ID.
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