An outsider gets known when he has been indicted, usually imprisoned and connects with other associates and made-men. They pass on the word to a captain or above him and say "yeah, this guy is tough, has been indicted 17 times for loansharking". Do you understand what I mean. Also, you don't need a mafia background, the rule WAS, your father HAD to be Italian to become a made-man or goodfella as you might call it. Some captains just rely on someones word, i mean, any guy could lie to a captain and say his father was Italian. He'd just need a good Brooklyn-Italian voice, and have an Italian surname too. Some other captains go a little bit further and strictly enforce and agree with the "Being made, your dad has to be Italian" rule. A few even asked to meet up with their father and asked the dad if he was Italian. As I said, the rules don't mean anything today.