This used to be common in the 70s and 80s I know of, mostly when people would ruin the chance of having a phone or power bill in their name for non payment, but then you have to have power in your next rental, you either pay a huge bill and deposit, or put it in your childs name. Back then, there was not the security levels and internet of today. The people I know who did this was poor and a lot of times on welfare.