An insurer, insurance producer or insurance-support organization may not use or authorize the use of pretext interviews to obtain personal information in connection with an insurance transaction. However, a pretext interview may be undertaken to obtain information from a person or institution that does not have a generally recognized or statutorily recognized privileged relationship with the person about whom the information relates, for the purpose of investigating a claim where, based upon specific information available for review by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, there is a reasonable basis for suspecting criminal activity, fraud, material misrepresentation or material nondisclosure in connection with the claim. [1981 c.649 § 5; 2003 c.87 § 9; 2003 c.364 § 154]