Um, yes, I suppose so. The problem is that all of this information is readily available, at any library or even on the Internet. Some of it is even in the phone book. It sounds like the individuals involved (whatever their motivation) are essentially clueless about how to find out information in this society, or even fail to understand how it operates at a basic level.
If the questions were legitimate (that is, they were just interested in new career, etc), it's a very strange way to go about it. On the other hand, if point was illegitimate (some kind of criminal or terrorist plot), it's still strange - it draws attention to themselves unnecessarily, and suggests either some kind of freelance activity or that they were sent or recruited without adequate preparation and planning.
I'm betting freelancers of some kind - who are essentially clueless but who can be dangerous if they manage to slip through the cracks.
I'm with you on the bet.
History has taught us that many of these guys tend to be as dumb as a box of hair.