How does a private investigator get your private data and is it illegal?

Question

How does a private investigator get your private data and is it illegal?

Answer 1

you don't have privacy, you only have a 'reasonable expectation of privacy' there are items of information (numbers and such) which are illegal to give out, but if this guy scopes your trash and finds something he can use the numbers to find things out because the info itself is public domain. or at least the information is restricted to whoever has the numbers to access it. dmv records bank statements, all sorts of things can be accessed once you know where to look.

Answer 2

try this...plug in your name into google and see what comes up.  try your phone number next.  After that....try searching people finders.  According to public records at various locations, you can find almost anything.  In people finder website you can enter a name and a location and come up with a few hits.  once you pay the site you can then receive more information.  Take that information and cross reference that with court records or clerk of court records and just guess what you can find.

Answer 3

Well, there are a number of ways just about ANY information can be obtained. To give you details would be foolish because, if you know how to do what I know how to do, you don't need me to get it done and I am out of a job. But, "Stupid Should Hurt" is almost dead on. I would only add one thing to his answer. Most states require a state issued and regulated license to work as a private investigator. As such, base don the licensing requirements and the nature of the business, a licensed private investigator has legal access to certain database resources such as DMV. However, the reason for any request made to such an agency must meet certain "permissible use" guidelines.  

Answer 4

he snoops around...im wondering the same you are...

Answer 5

Sorry.  Most of your personal information is public record.  PI's use any variety of public records that are freely available and a several online services that research public records for them.  Real estate, marriage, divorce, traffic tickets, criminal arrests, civil suits, credit history, motor vehicle & drivers' license.  Also, those buyer club cards we get at grocery stores & specialty stores also collect info that is available to others at a cost.  With very few exceptions, all of your information is public.  Medical records, certain academic records, and police records related to juvenile crimes and ongoing investigations are pretty much all that is confidential.

PI's also just talk to people, conduct surveillance, and investigate.  For example, you toss your stuff in the trash and drag it to the curb; that's fair game and all courts consider that abandoned property.  Even the police use trash pulls to see what suspected criminals toss in the garbage.  Anything they find is fair game without a warrant and can be used in court.