Well just to add my 2c... which probably isnt even worth that much...

If I misrepresent myself as an engineer... doctor... land surveyor... lawyer... etc etc etc... then i'm doing something wrong...

Whether it is a misrepresentation by the seller or not, for the individual to assume something because it was sold to them doesnt remove THEIR obligation to do their due diligence... would they consider walking round calling themselves Chief of Police, Mayor, senator, congressman, or any number of other titles? No, because they KNOW it to be incorrect.

In many cases I suspect that most of the people using a title know it didnt come for $30... and as for the Laird/Lord thing... until recently a Lord was allowed to sit in the House of Lords... that would have meant someone claiming not only to be a Lord, but also a polititian in the UK ( and before anyone says anything... i know the law was changed).