An acquaintance works for a collection agency. She told me, collection agencies and private detectives can find anyone. I found this statement rather bold.

If her statement is correct, please tell me how they do it. Do collection agencies resort to illegal tactics?

I am willing to bet they do it all legally. Public records are easily out there. Phone Directory listings, USPS records, including forwarding addresses. Employment records, other various sources.

In some cases, they may need legal reasons and documents (such as Court Order) to get such records. It's part of doing business. Add Bounty Hunters and Repo folks to your list of searchers. If you are out there, and left any identifying information out there, they can and will find it. The Information Age has made it even easier.

I would think if they resorted to illegal activities, they would eventually get caught and penalized for it, possibly by losing licenses among other things. Unscrupulous businesses exist, and JDB's are out there that don't comply with state and federal laws, very likely they might be obtaining info on you without the proper procedures and paperwork as well. Crooks are not known to be ethical.

Most probably do it legally, their very business and livelihood depends on following the rules. This is just my observation, I can't answer with facts, only opinions.

Its really not that hard to find someone if they have a social security number. You cannot get anything done legally in this country without it...

If you work legally, own any real property, have your credit score checked to rent an apartment... your SSN is attached to all of it.

Someone with a desire to find you can, legally, and fairly easily. The best part of the whole thing is that if you took out a loan or got the credit card and used it, you agreed to it!