In fact, social networking would make it easier.

In the old day, the intelligence community maintained elaborate social networks. An operative would have references in the form of relatives, ex-bosses, former landlords; real people already in place ready to give the appropriate answers on cue to fool any fact-checking operations. This has been covered in the works of LeCarre, Littell and McNab.

Now, you can establish as much of a detailed ‘legend’ as you want for your cover identity with all sorts of friends on Facebook available and in place.

I’m sure the better brains in the intelligence community have already exploited this resource.