there were rumors of gray market identity traders in the 2000 times, within the USA. What changes is accuracy, timeliness, noise levels and verifiability, off the top of my head... Apparently completely legal identity document sales have gone on since the 1950s at least, around driving registration, home address, employment and related things. Since that is in the USA, with newer laws and an alleged emphasis on citizen rights, I can only imagine that other large political powers have had this for centuries.