It is possible to "spoof" numbers in the UK. I've seen it. Calls from outside the UK masquerading as UK numbers. They tend to use London numbers which is the main giveaway.

I'd say the deregulation of the telephone industry in America, breaking up the baby Bells, etc would have probably been the biggest hand.

We broke everything up and let any old player enter the telco world over here which broke the entire sanctity of the security of the telephone network.