How to Remove Your Info From People-Search Websites

People-search websites are the public face of the data broker industry. Type a name into a search box and, within seconds, you may see an age, a current address, past addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and a list of relatives. The pages are free to view, and they are built to attract traffic from search engines and to sell more detailed reports. If you have ever searched for yourself and felt your stomach drop, you are not alone. The good news is that most of these sites offer a way to remove your listing. This guide walks through the full process, from preparing your information to dealing with sites that ignore you.

1. How people-search sites get your data

Understanding where the data comes from explains why removal is a process and not a single event.

Source	Examples
Public records	Property deeds, court filings, voter files, business registrations
Purchased data	Marketing lists, subscription data, loyalty programs
Phone and utility headers	Directory and credit header information
Social media	Public profiles and posts
Other brokers	Data sold from one company to another

Because the sources keep producing new records, a profile you remove can be rebuilt. And because many sites buy from the same upstream providers, a profile on one site often means profiles on many. For a fuller explanation, read everything you need to know about data brokers.

2. Before you start: preparation

Step 1: Create an alias email

Use a free alias or a new email account for confirmations. Opt-out forms ask for an email, and you do not want your main inbox on another list. See how to set up an alias email address.

Step 2: Build a tracking sheet

Make a spreadsheet with columns for the site, profile URL, what the profile shows, date submitted, confirmation received, date verified and next check. This turns a vague chore into a manageable project.

Step 3: Collect your search terms

Write down your full name, nicknames, maiden names, middle initial, current and past addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. People-search sites often hold several profiles for the same person.

Step 4: Use a private browser window

This avoids personalized results and keeps cookies from complicating forms.

3. Step 5: Find your listings

Search for your name and state on the largest people-search sites. Filter by age and city to narrow results. For each profile, copy the URL from the browser address bar. If you cannot find a profile directly, search your phone number or address, because some sites index them separately. See who the biggest data brokers are for the main names.

4. Step 6: Submit each opt-out

Every site has a slightly different process. Most follow this pattern:

Find the “opt out”, “remove my info”, “do not sell” or “privacy” link in the footer.
Paste the profile URL into the form.
Enter your alias email.
Complete the verification step, which may be an email link, a code or a captcha.
Save the confirmation.

Key official pages include Spokeo’s opt-out, the PeopleConnect suppression page for Instant Checkmate, Intelius, TruthFinder and related brands and ThatsThem’s opt-out. Other sites such as Whitepages, BeenVerified, MyLife and Radaris have their own pages; our guides on Whitepages, Spokeo and MyLife cover specific steps. For a full list in priority order, see how to opt out of the most popular people-search sites.

Curious what’s already out there? Wiperts’ 100% Free Diagnosis shows which data brokers are listing your name, home address and phone number. Check your exposure free — it takes about a minute.

5. Opt-out safety: what to watch for

Opt-outs are a target for scams and for over-collection of data.

Use only official pages. Look-alike sites and ads can imitate opt-out forms to collect your details.
Do not upload ID unless required. If a site asks for ID, send a redacted copy where possible, hiding everything except what is needed.
Avoid paying. Free listings should have free opt-outs. A request for payment is a red flag.
Check the confirmation email address. Make sure it comes from the site you used.
Do not create an account to opt out unless the site requires it.
Beware of upsells. An opt-out form that tries to sell you a paid report is not a problem, but you do not have to buy anything.

If you receive suspicious messages after an opt-out, mark them as spam and report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

6. Step 7: Verify and follow up

Wait two to four weeks and search again. If the profile is gone, record the date. If it persists:

Resubmit with the original request date.
Send a short email to the site’s privacy contact.
Mention any applicable state law, such as a consumer privacy statute.
File a complaint with your state attorney general or privacy regulator if the site still refuses.
Request removal of the cached search result in the meantime. See how to remove your personal information from Google.

7. Special programs and state rights

Some programs help beyond individual opt-outs.

California DROP: Residents can submit one deletion request to all registered brokers. It opened on January 1, 2026, and brokers must start processing requests from August 1, 2026 (privacy.ca.gov/drop).
State privacy laws: Residents of states with comprehensive laws can often request deletion or opt out of sale.
Daniel’s Law (New Jersey): Protects covered persons, such as certain public officials, and has led to legal action against brokers. Eligible individuals have specific processes.
Address confidentiality programs: Provide substitute addresses for people at risk.

8. Keeping profiles from coming back

Re-check each site monthly for three months and then quarterly.
Re-run the opt-outs after any move, new phone number or major record change.
Use aliases for new sign-ups.
Ask relatives to opt out too, so that their pages do not re-create links. See websites know who your family members are.
Consider a monitoring service if you do not want to do the checks yourself.

Read why your information keeps getting re-added online for details.

9. What opt-outs cannot do

Removing a profile does not erase the underlying public records, and it does not stop other brokers from buying the data later. Some sites republish pages on new domains. Information on social media, news sites or in leaked databases is outside the scope of broker opt-outs. For those, use the other methods in 15 ways to erase private information from the internet.

10. How to handle common obstacles

Opt-outs rarely go perfectly. If a form returns an error, try again in a different browser without extensions, since blockers sometimes break captchas. If a confirmation email never arrives, check spam folders and resend after an hour. If a site says it cannot find your record, try the exact URL, search again with a different spelling or ask the site to suppress all records matching your name and state. If the site claims that you must call a phone number, note the time of the call and the name of the person you spoke with.

When a site asks for proof of identity, offer the minimum: some accept a redacted driver’s license that hides everything except your name and the state, while others accept a confirmation by email or text. Keep a copy of what you sent. If you are uncomfortable, a privacy professional or a removal service can submit on your behalf under an authorization, which many sites accept.

11. Three scenarios and what to do

Scenario 1: Your address appears on five sites. Opt out of all five in the same sitting, record each confirmation and re-check in three weeks.

Scenario 2: A site says it cannot find your profile. Search for your phone number and address, try variations of your name and ask the site to remove all records associated with your details.

Scenario 3: A site demands a government ID. Look for an alternative verification method, send a redacted copy only if necessary and keep a record. If the site refuses to proceed otherwise, ask a privacy professional or use a removal service.

12. What to expect: a realistic timeline

Step	Typical time
Finding profiles	1 to 2 hours
Submitting opt-outs	2 to 4 hours
Site processing	Days to four weeks
Follow-ups	15 minutes per site
Re-listing	One to three months

13. Common mistakes

Using your main email for confirmations.
Uploading unredacted ID unnecessarily.
Opting out of one brand but not its sister sites.
Not recording requests.
Assuming the profile is gone without checking.
Falling for paid “removal” scams.

14. How Wiperts fits

The process above works, but it takes hours up front and recurring effort afterwards. Wiperts scans more than 100 data brokers and people-search sites for your name, addresses, phone numbers and relatives, submits the removal requests, removes your personal results from Google and Bing, blurs your home on maps and monitors around the clock so reappearing profiles are removed again.

Find out which sites list you with the free diagnosis.

100% Free Diagnosis: Check Your Exposure

Find out what data brokers have on you. Enter your details in the free scanner on the Wiperts homepage:

First Name
Last Name
Select State
Email Address
Website

Scan Databases Now — no payment is needed to see your exposure report.

15. Key takeaways

People-search sites compile public and purchased data, and most offer an opt-out.
Prepare an alias email and a tracking sheet, then submit opt-outs through official pages.
Verify after a few weeks and follow up on refusals.
Re-check regularly because profiles reappear.

Pick the Wiperts plan that fits your household

Plan	Covers	One-time deep scrub	Then
Individual	1 person	$89	$14/month
Couples (most popular)	2 people	$149	$24/month
Family	Up to 4 people	$199	$39/month

Every plan includes removal of your name, date of birth, salary, home address and phone number from 100+ data brokers and people-search sites, Google and Bing search-result removal, home blurring on maps, and 24/7 monitoring that re-removes your data if it reappears. See plans and start your removal

16. Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal for people-search sites to publish my information?

In most of the United States, yes. They compile public records and purchased data, which is generally lawful. A growing number of state laws give residents rights to opt out or delete, and some sites provide opt-outs voluntarily.

Does opting out cost money?

Reputable sites do not charge for opt-outs. Be cautious of any site or third party that asks for payment to remove a free listing. Paid removal services charge for convenience and monitoring, not for access to a special process.

Why do I need to give my information to opt out?

The site needs to find your listing, so you usually provide a profile URL and a confirmation email. Avoid uploading ID unless the site specifically requires it, and use an alias email where possible.

How long does removal take?

Many sites remove a profile within a few days, and others take up to a few weeks. Verify after two to four weeks and resubmit if the profile is still visible.

Will my information come back?

Often, yes. Sites refresh data from new records, so a move, a new phone number or an updated public filing can create a new listing. Plan to re-check monthly for three months and then quarterly.

What if a site refuses to remove me?

Document your request, follow up once, cite any state privacy rights and file a complaint with your state attorney general or privacy regulator. Also request search-engine removal while you pursue the site.

Sources

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