TruePeopleSearch Opt Out Guide: 6 Easy Steps for Removal in 2023
In the age of big data, our personal information is a hot commodity. Data brokers and people search websites like True People Search vacuum up vast amounts of consumer data and sell access to anyone willing to pay a few dollars.
While these sites can be useful for reconnecting with old classmates or vetting a potential tenant, having your home address, phone number, relatives and other sensitive details openly available also comes with serious privacy risks.
According to the FBI‘s Internet Crime Report, over 6.5 million cybercrimes were reported from 2015 to 2021, with financial losses exceeding $18 billion. Crimes like identity theft, stalking, fraud and social engineering attacks are increasingly fueled by easy access to personal data online.
As one of the largest free people search engines, True People Search enables anyone to look up detailed records on just about every adult in the US. Founded in 2017, the site now claims to have data on more than 277 million people.
So how does True People Search get your information, and what can you do to protect your privacy? In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down the data collection tactics used by people search sites, the dangers of exposed personal info, and most importantly – how to remove yourself from True People Search in 6 simple steps.
How True People Search Gets Your Personal Data
To build detailed profiles on hundreds of millions of people, True People Search and similar data brokers tap into a vast web of offline and online data sources, including:
- Public records (property records, court records, voter rolls, birth/death records, etc.)
- Web scraping of social media profiles, online forums, and other websites
- Aggregating data from phone books and print directories
- Purchasing data from credit bureaus, other data brokers, and database creators
- Merging multiple data points to infer additional info and create complete profiles
Your "digital footprint" is a key source. Per the Pew Research Center, over 60% of Americans don‘t know what data is being collected about them or how it‘s used. Many are unaware that publicly posting about a new home, job, vehicle or relationship on social media can be instantly cataloged and distributed by data brokers.
Data scraped, sourced and purchased from thousands of sources is assembled into individual profiles in seconds. For example, True People Search allows any user to enter a name, phone number or address and immediately view a listing with intimate details like:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Current home address and address history
- All known phone numbers (landline and mobile)
- All known email addresses
- Relatives, associates and neighbors
- Birthdate and age
- Social media profiles
This data is then served up to site visitors, licensed in bulk to third-party companies, or accessed via API by app developers. Access to such comprehensive personal data enables more effective targeted advertising, analytics and people searches – but also makes it easier for scammers, stalkers and hackers to find potential victims.
How Exposed Data Feeds Crime & Privacy Violations
The dark side of the people search industry is hard to ignore. When so much personal data is readily available, it inevitably falls into the wrong hands. Exposed information fuels threats like:
Identity theft and fraud
- In 2021, the FTC received 1.4 million reports of identity theft.
- Roughly 1 in 8 adults have fallen victim to identity fraud.
Online harassment and stalking
- 41% of Americans have experienced online harassment.
- 1 in 4 stalking victims report being stalked using data found online.
Phishing and social engineering attacks
- The FBI reports phishing as the #1 cybercrime, with over 240,000 known victims.
- 15% of phishing attack victims experience identity theft or account takeover.
Employment and housing decisions
- Nearly half of US companies use web searches or data brokers to research job candidates.
- Some landlords screen tenants using personal info on data broker sites rather than authorized records.
Targeted advertising, spam and robocalls
- The average person received over 1,600 robocalls in 2021 – many enabled by data brokers.
- 63% of consumers find personal info collection for advertising purposes creepy rather than convenient.
Government surveillance
- Federal agencies like ICE have faced scrutiny for purchasing data from brokers without due process.
- Some police departments use data aggregators and people search tools to investigate citizens.
So while people search websites tend to present themselves as harmless tools for finding long-lost relatives or vetting a Tinder match, the easy access they provide to such comprehensive personal data comes with major downsides for privacy and safety. To reduce your risk exposure, opting out of these sites is wise.
How to Remove Yourself From True People Search (Step-by-Step)
Luckily, True People Search does offer a way to opt out and remove your listing from the site. Let‘s walk through the DIY removal process:
Step 1: Navigate to True People Search opt-out page
Go to this URL: https://www.truepeoplesearch.com/removal
Step 2: Enter opt-out details
In the first form, enter the email address where you want a verification link sent. Check the box to agree to the site‘s terms of service and fill out the CAPTCHA. Then click the yellow "Begin Removal" button.
Step 3: Search for your record(s)
On the next screen, enter your first and last name plus your city and state into the search box. Click the search icon to find any records associated with your name.
Step 4: Select the correct record
On the search results page, locate any and all records that pertain to you. Click the "View Details" button next to a record to verify it‘s yours. You may have multiple records if you‘ve moved or changed phone numbers, so be sure to check them all.
Step 5: Request removal
Once you‘ve confirmed a record belongs to you, scroll down to the bottom of the details page. Click the red "Remove This Record" button.
Step 6: Confirm opt-out
After clicking remove, you should see a pop-up message confirming your opt-out request has been received. The message notes that your record will be removed from the site within 24 hours, although some users report removals taking up to 48 hours to process.
If no records are found or you encounter errors during the DIY opt-out process, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Search for variations of your name (with and without middle initial or maiden name)
- Check records in multiple states if you‘ve moved in the past 5-10 years
- Use a different browser or clear your cookies/cache and try again
- Wait 5-7 days after submitting a removal request to see if it goes through
When the DIY approach fails, consider using a reputable data removal service like DeleteMe, Incogni or Privacy Bee to handle the opt-out process for you. For a subscription fee, these services will remove your info from True People Search along with 100+ other data brokers and people search sites.
Using an Opt-Out Service for True People Search Removal
The benefit of hiring a data removal service is saving time and gaining peace of mind. With a single subscription, you can rest assured that a team of privacy experts is working to clear your personal info from the most prolific data broker sites and monitoring for new records to remove.
For example, DeleteMe will scour over 500 data broker sites for your info and remove you from more than 35 top sites that are the main culprits for reputation and privacy issues. They also continue monitoring and removing new records every few months for as long as you remain a subscriber.
While data removal services are more costly than opting out yourself, they boast higher success rates and save considerable time and hassle. Most privacy-conscious consumers find the fees worthwhile for the convenience and reassurance that their info is routinely cleared from dozens of databases.
Here‘s a quick comparison of the top data removal services to consider for opting out of True People Search and other popular people search engines:
| Service | # of Sites Cleared | Cost | Removal Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeleteMe | 500+ | $108/year | 7-14 days |
| Incogni | 230+ | $79/year | 30-45 days |
| Privacy Bee | 300+ | $399/year | 30-60 days |
Another powerful strategy for data removal is to contact True People Search directly. If your DIY opt-out fails and you prefer not to use a removal service, try reaching out to True People Search‘s support team to request deletion, citing your privacy rights under laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
True People Search contact info:
- Phone: 888-838-4803
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing Address: PO Box 7775 #51560 San Francisco, CA 94120-7775
Tips to Minimize Your Personal Info on Data Broker Sites
Removing your True People Search listing is a smart first step, but dozens of other data brokers are likely exposing your info online. To clean up your digital footprint more comprehensively, follow these tips:
Opt out of other top people search sites
Start with these popular sites that tend to show up at the top of Google search results. Visit each one to find their opt-out instructions and submit removal requests:
- Spokeo
- Whitepages
- BeenVerified
- Intelius
- MyLife
- PeopleFinders
- US Search
- PeekYou
- Radaris
- Instant Checkmate
Minimize sensitive data exposure
Focus your opt-out efforts on removing personally identifiable info (PII) and sensitive details that could aid identity thieves or stalkers:
- Address history and property records
- Phone numbers and email addresses
- Birthdate and social security number
- Criminal and court records
- Relative and associate profiles
Clean up your social media presence
Comb through old social posts, profiles and photos to delete any sensitive personal details. Tighten privacy settings to hide your posts and profiles from non-friends. Be cautious about accepting friend requests or engaging with strangers who may be trying to gather intel.
Use privacy-focused online tools
Opt for privacy-centric alternatives to popular web services:
- Browsers: Tor, Brave, DuckDuckGo
- Email: Protonmail, Tutanota, StartMail
- Search engines: DuckDuckGo, Qwant, Startpage
- Cloud storage: Sync.com, pCloud, Tresorit
Enable password managers & 2FA
Using unique, strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication on your online accounts helps prevent unauthorized access – even if a data leak exposes your login credentials. A password manager like LastPass or 1Password makes this process simple.
Invest in digital security tools
Consider signing up for identity theft protection, a VPN service, and antivirus software. These tools help monitor for signs of identity fraud, encrypt your web traffic to shield online activity, and block malware infections that could steal personal data.
Be selective about data sharing
No matter how private you are online, living a modern life necessitates sharing some personal data. But you can be strategic about who you share it with. Opt out of data sharing when possible, don‘t overshare on social media, and provide only necessary info when signing up for accounts or subscriptions.
The Bottom Line
Removing your personal information from True People Search is an important step toward protecting your privacy, reputation and security online. Whether through a DIY opt-out process, a data removal service, or direct contact with the company, taking action to remove your info helps reduce risks like identity theft, doxxing and lost job opportunities.
In our digital world, managing your data footprint is an ongoing effort. New records appear constantly as we move through life, posting online and sharing details with businesses, government agencies, and apps. Staying vigilant about who has your data and removing sensitive info from broker sites is key.
While you can never achieve total anonymity online, using strong cybersecurity and being proactive about opt-outs can make a huge difference in owning your digital presence. For more tips on data privacy and security visit [website].
Frequently Asked Questions
How does True People Search gather personal information?
True People Search and similar data brokers collect info by crawling public records, scraping websites, purchasing consumer data from other companies, and merging data points from multiple sources to build detailed individual profiles.
Is it safe to use the True People Search opt-out form?
Yes, using the official opt-out page on True People Search is safe. Many have completed the removal process with no issues. However, some people prefer to use data removal services to handle the opt-out on their behalf.
How long does it take True People Search to remove your data?
True People Search states that removals are processed within 24 hours of submitting the opt-out form, but some users report it taking up to 48 hours to see their listing removed. Check back a few days after opting out to ensure your info is gone.
Will opting out of True People Search remove me from other sites?
No, removing your True People Search listing will not remove your info from other people search sites. You‘ll need to check each site individually for opt-out instructions to request removal. Data removal services can streamline this by opting you out from many sites at once.
How often should I check data broker sites for my information?
It‘s wise to audit your digital footprint by searching for your name on popular data broker sites every 3-6 months and opting out of any that list your info. Staying on top of opt-outs helps minimize your risk exposure. You can also set up Google Alerts for your name to get notified when new records appear.
