Discover What Private Investigators Can’t Do

A common myth is Private Investigators have access to all types of information, especially information that the public cannot access. However, the reality is that in Australia we are restricted by the Privacy Act.

Keep reading to find a summary of what we can’t access.

Background Searches

Private Investigators cannot access information on government databases. This includes, and is not limited to, records held by:

1. Australian Taxation Office (employment history & taxable incomes)
2. Medicare (health & medical history)
3. Centrelink (government income)
4. Service NSW (this includes finding details from car registrations)
5. Immigration records (when people have entered or departed the country and visa status)
6. Births, Deaths & Marriages NSW (marriage status – determining if someone is married or has been married.)
7. Criminal Background Checks – this can only be obtained through the NSW Police with a signed consent form from the person who is being checked.

Information through private companies

In terms of private information through private companies, Private Investigators cannot obtain information in relation to:

Banks

This includes what bank accounts people have under their name, bank balances and transactions made in their accounts including credit cards.

Information gathering Private Investigators are not permitted to complete

This includes what bank accounts people have under their name, bank balances and transactions made in their accounts including credit cards.

Hacking

Private Investigators cannot access information on government databases. This includes, and is not limited to, records held by:

1. Hacking Phones – There is software out there which YOU can install on people’s phones, however this is something you have to do. Private Investigators cannot hack someone’s phone remotely, especially iPhones. This includes Instant messaging such as Messenger, WhatsApp & WeChat.
2. Hacking Computers – Private Investigators do not hack people’s computers.
3. Hacking Emails/Social Media – we cannot hack a person’s email account or social media accounts such as Instagram and Facebook.

Missing persons

The police have better technology and resources to find missing persons. Generally Private Investigators stay away from missing persons.

Online dating

We cannot find out who people are on dating sites as they generally use an alias. We do not have access to databases of private online dating websites.

What can we do?

If you would like to know what Private Investigators can do, please see our blog on about what we’re legally able to do.

If you require anything outside of the scope of what we have outlined above, give us a call and we’ll let you know if we can help you.