They can run... .but thanks to technology... it's getting harder to hide. Bloomberg Boot Camp, a report on today's technology. If you have a computer and have tried to find a long lost friend or relative on the Internet... you know what an amazing tool it can be. But online phone directories and search engines are just the start when it comes to using technology to find dead beat parents... .

"Technology has really increased our ability to be able to work the cases that need to be worked."

Kay Farley is the President-elect of the National Child Support Enforcement Association. The group has been working to link private and public databases from state to state... .

"Fifty six percent or 12.9 billion dollars in current child support is being collected. That increase is significantly attributable to the automated tools that are now available."

Computers enabled the IRS to divert 1.4 billion dollars worth of refunds in the last tax year... .to overdue child support payments. The technology consulting firm Accenture, has developed an e-Child Support application. Manager Karen Henson... .says non-custodial parents who owe child support are finding it harder to hide...

"What Accenture is bringing to the table is this locate portal where we can actually tap into other resources in other states... such as utility companies... and find out information regarding the location of individuals involved in a child support case."

With 44 percent of the 23 billion dollars in child support owed last year uncollected... .there is still a long way to go. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.