Ontario Private Investigator Practice Exam

Which documents cannot be obtained without lawful authority or signed release?

1. Public records

2. Credit records, income tax, or bank records

3. Newspaper archives

4. Social media profiles

The correct answer is: Credit records, income tax, or bank records

Credit records, income tax, and bank records cannot be obtained without lawful authority or signed release because they contain sensitive financial information about a person and their private financial transactions. Public records, such as birth certificates or property deeds, are generally available to the public. Newspaper archives may also contain information that is considered public and accessible to everyone. Similarly, social media profiles are usually accessible to anyone, but obtaining them without the individual's consent can still be considered a breach of privacy. Therefore, the only documents that cannot be obtained without lawful authority or signed release are credit records, income tax, and bank records.