The phones, emails and even bank accounts of Victorian public servants are being monitored for suspicious activity as state government agencies grapple with conflict-of-interest corruption.

An in-house “forensic lab” is running checks on official phones for contact with gangsters, the IBAC anti-corruption agency has revealed.

Data technology is also being used to compare employees’ bank account numbers with those of suppliers doing business with the state government.

The commission's latest special report on the dangers of conflict-of-interest corruption in the public sector cites cases of senior public servants enjoying lavish hospitality and overseas trips paid for by suppliers hoping to secure lucrative government contracts.

IBAC found some public servants thought by their managers to be acting for the public good and “getting the job done” had in fact been enriching themselves through secret deals with suppliers or contractors.