The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has uncovered widespread use of investigators by the credit union sector and now fears that other sectors may also be engaged in the illicit gaining of information. Credit unions have called in the investigators to trace clients who owe them money. When they examined the area, the regulators were surprised at the extent of the information that the detectives managed to access. These included address and national insurance numbers which were obtained by the use of false indentities when dealing with state departments.

Extensive knowledge

Assistant Data Protection Commissioner Tom Delaney has built up extensive knowledge of current practices. He said: 'I certainly don't believe this type of rogue activity is confined to credit unions.' Source: Campus.ie