GH's case was obviously a well planned and prepared for fraud with fake ID in order to impersonate her. I think it could potentially happen to anyone. It is so easy to get people's details, birth certs, marriage certs, family and friends' details, address etc. I could probably trace most people in a couple of hours. (Although in fairness I wouldnt know where to get fake ID so I suppose I shall just have to stay on the straight and narrow for now).
In terms of being ripped off by trades, I would like to think not because I am naturally of a suspicious nature but who knows.
It is the elderly I feel really sorry for - so easy for them to fall for the simplest of tricks. Part of the problem with people like my 90 year old grandparents is that they are trusting. If someone saying they were from the bank were to call them, they would do as they were told! If someone turned up saying he was a police officer, from the gas board, water board etc, they would ordinarily accept what they were told. Thankfully, my mother and I have re-educated them so they always call one of us.