What is a Private Investigator?
A private investigator (also called a private detective) is someone a person or business hires to conduct surveillance or other investigation services. They deal with various cases, including:
- Background checks
- General surveillance
- Fraud
- Skip tracing
- Character reference checks
- Permanent disability claims
- Insurance claims
- WorkCover claims
- Personal injury claims
- Collecting evidence for litigation and court proceedings.
According to the Security Providers Act 1993, a private investigator is a person who, for reward:
- Obtains and provides private information about another person without their express consent or
- Carries out surveillance for the same purpose without their express consent
They are not private investigators when they are business employees who obtain information about another person for their employer, whether rewarded for doing so or not.
About Insurance Surveillance
Insurance companies sometimes conduct surveillance by monitoring the claimant’s daily activities to:
- Prevent fraud and
- Validate the authenticity of Workcover claims and other injury claims
Surveillance activities aim to capture other evidence that conflicts with the insured persons’ reported limitations to avoid payouts for exaggerated or false claims.
What are the Types of Insurance Surveillance?
When conducting an investigation, an insurance company will use two main types of surveillance for personal injury claims, including:
- Direct observation: investigators follow claimants and record activity with photo and video surveillance
- Digital monitoring: monitoring social media accounts
Insurers view social media as a cost-effective way to gather potentially damaging information. Posts contradicting a claimant’s reported injuries can undermine their compensation claim and reduce payout value.
Surveillance can start at any time during the claims process, but often following an independent medical examination.
Legal Boundaries for Private Investigators
Private investigators must follow certain surveillance restrictions that spell out what actions are allowed and seek to protect privacy. First, they must not violate any laws while conducting surveillance. Here’s what they can’t do:
- Force entry into your private residence or trespass onto private property
- Capture pictures or videos of you performing a private act or in a private place where you would reasonably expect privacy.
- Use a listening device to record private conversations
- Cannot use illegal recording devices and hidden cameras
- They are not allowed to access financial, phone and medical records unlawfully
- Private investigators are not allowed to provide legal advice.
- They cannot carry weapons or use force to defend people or property.
What Can Be Legally Recorded?
In Australia, private investigators’ use of video surveillance is regulated to prevent misuse. They can legally record photos and videos of you and your house if they are not trespassing or capturing private activities. Surveillance is only permissible in public spaces and under specific conditions.
If you think you are under surveillance, be aware of your surroundings and avoid actions that could be misinterpreted or used against you in a personal injury or WorkCover claim.
Public vs. Private Property
When it comes to surveillance, the law treats public and private property very differently.
• A private investigator is allowed to conduct surveillance on public property, such as footpaths, parks or streets.
• Recording requires consent in a private place, which protects privacy within homes and other private spaces.
Social Media Monitoring by an Insurance Company
In Australia, it is common for an insurance company to monitor social media accounts for fraudulent activity, particularly for larger insurance claims. Insurers employ larger teams of insurance investigators who seek to limit their employer’s financial liability.
As part of their role, private investigators view the claimants’ and acquaintances’ social media posts and interactions to assess whether their claims are valid and legitimate and spot any signs of deception. For example, they might check the physical range of someone making an injury claim.
The goal of investing in surveillance is to increase insurance companies’ bottom lines by reducing the number of claims they have to pay.
How Spying Impacts Personal Injury Claims
Photographic and video surveillance from spying activity can significantly impact the success of personal injury claims.
Furthermore, social media activity showing claimants doing activities that contradict their reported injuries can significantly weaken their case, leading to reduced or denied compensation.
Protecting Your Online Privacy
When making an insurance claim, setting your social media accounts to private is a good idea to prevent anyone from accessing your personal information. Additionally, be careful what you post because your friends and family might comment or share it with someone else, where an investigator can view the contents.
How to Respond if an Insurer Spys on You
If you have an active legal claim and believe a private investigator is monitoring you, you should:
- Be cautious about your actions so as not to jeopardise the claims process
- Avoid activities your doctor advises against
- Seek legal advice from a compensation lawyer or insurance claim specialist before further surveillance occurs.
Tops Tips to Avoid Damaging Evidence
If you are making a personal injury or other insurance claim, expect insurance surveillance as part of the claim process. Long-term Queensland WorkCover claims are particularly subject to investigation.
In personal injury cases, investigators frequently use photos, videos, and social media posts to search for damaging evidence. Telling the truth about your symptoms and how they affect your life is always the best strategy
If you are concerned about the viability of your claim, ask a Queensland personal injury lawyer for advice.
Get Legal Advice When an Insurance Company Spies on You
In our experience, people making a legal claim sometimes question: Can insurance companies spy on me? The answer is yes, as long as it doesn’t break any Australian or state surveillance laws. So, if you are making a compensation claim, Workcover claim or other insurance claim, your best course of action is to:
• Set your social media accounts to private
• Be careful what you post on social media, because it might be shared by others
• Follow your doctor’s advice regarding activities
• Seek legal guidance, particularly if an investigator has breached surveillance rules.
Insurance Company Private Investigator FAQs
Do Private Investigators Monitor WorkCover Claims?
Yes, WorkCover uses private investigators as part of the claim management process. In Australia, monitoring employees without prior notice is completely legal. WorkCover employs investigators to:
- Assess their liability in legal proceedings
- Decide on common law payouts for injured workers
- Determine if there is an abuse of the workers compensation scheme
Be aware that if your workers’ compensation has been ongoing for over 12 months, you will likely be investigated.
NOTE: A common mistake is for an injured worker to receive cash income while claiming workers’ compensation benefits, which is considered fraud.
Can insurance companies really spy on me?
Yes, insurance companies can monitor you to prevent fraud, including:
• Using surveillance to verify claims
• And checking social media for information
What types of surveillance methods do insurance companies use?
Insurers commonly use direct personal surveillance methods such as:
• Visually monitoring of claimants using photography and video
• Desktop surveillance of social media activity
These steps are taken to stop fraud and ensure that claims are valid.
What steps can I take to protect my claim from surveillance?
To protect your legal claim from surveillance, you should:
• Ensure your social media accounts are private
• Be consistent in your online and offline activities to avoid creating contradictory evidence
• Be transparent about your financial activities
• Follow your doctor’s guidance
What are the legal boundaries for private investigators?
Private investigators must operate within legal standards that protect privacy, prohibiting actions such as:
• Listening to private conversations
• Illegal recordings
• Trespassing on private property
How can social media monitoring affect my personal injury claim?
Social media monitoring can significantly harm your personal injury claim if your posts contradict your reported injuries, potentially reducing your compensation. Please be careful about what you share online, as insurers actively look for evidence that will undermine your case.