How to Remove Your Name from Background Checks
Written by: Adam
October 21st, 2021
Table of Contents
Your Personal Information May Be Exposed
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What Information Can Be Collected and Exposed?
Background Check Websites Explained: Personal Info Shared on the Web Your Online Reputation is at Risk
Removing Information from or Opting Out of People Search Websites
Top Background Check Websites Sharing Personal Data
Opt Out: How to Remove Yourself From Background Check Websites
Intelius.com
Acxiom.com
MyLife.com
Zabasearch.com
Spokeo.com
BeenVerified.com
Peekyou.com
USSearch.com
PeopleFinders.com
PeopleSmart.com
Whitepages.com
PublicRecordsNow.com
DOBSearch.com
Details to Consider
Social Media Websites Share Your Details
More on Removing Yourself From Background Check Websites
How Can NetReputation Help?
Request a Free Consultation
The best way to remove your name from background checks online? Contact our Content Removal Team today!
If you are looking for a new job, applying to college or buying a new home, removing your name from background checks is essential. Your personal information is readily available on the web, even if you don’t want it to be. Data brokers collect and share this data on people search websites, often without the knowledge or permission of the individuals which the private information belongs to.
Learn how to remove yourself from some of the most popular background sites fast. Our team of reputation specialists help you remove your private information from over 50+ data aggregate background sites across the web.
Your Personal Information May Be Exposed
To be honest, most background check websites are just awful. They search public records from across the country and post what they find online. This personal data is often incomplete, outdated and often inaccurate.
What’s worse: these background check websites bait users by displaying teaser results for free searches. And once they’ve taken the bait, users can find even more sensitive details for a small fee. Most of these sites are in the business of making money; personal privacy violation is of no consequence to them. After learning about these sites, you may wonder how to remove yourself from all background check sites. You may even wonder how to remove items from background check portals. The prospect of having your details exposed for the world to see is a daunting one; USA people search traffic has skyrocketed in recent years, and search results can have a damaging long-term effect on you and your business.
So, what does this mean for you? Well, it means anyone with internet access can find your home address, phone number, email, social profiles and more in just seconds. Armed with that information, someone could attempt to steal your identity — and may even be successful in their efforts. With a stolen identity, criminals can apply for credit cards or loans, file false tax returns, or commit any number of other crimes that are tied to the information relating to you.
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What Information Can Be Collected and Exposed?
People search websites exist for one reason: to make money. While many of these sites purport to provide people with access to information for honest purposes, these sites do more harm than good. In addition to your home address and phone numbers, people search sites typically post a wide range of other identifying details, including:
- First and last name
- Fax number
- Family members information
- Social media accounts
- Criminal records
- Activity on social networks
- Licensing/drivers number
- Financial details
- Marriage licenses
- Birth and death records
Anyone using a people search site can get your information and view details with a few clicks of a mouse. In many cases, the search results on these sites provide direct links to other resources or may charge a fee for access to additional details. Search engines index these sites, giving worldwide access to the information that identifies you and your family. Direct marketing companies may use this information to target you with ads you never requested, and unless you opt out, you can expect your information to be shared with literally hundreds of other marketing groups. The opt out process is opaque, leading many people to feel helpless against the onslaught of people search sites and people finders online.
Background Check Websites Explained: Personal Info Shared on the Web
Background sites collect information from a variety of sources. These can include public records from local, state, and federal government organizations. Sources may also include social media platforms, data broker sites, private databases and other sites that collect and store details about people. A single website may contain information on millions of individuals; search results on these sites can turn up information you didn’t even know existed, let alone wanted others to access.
To make matters worse, most of these sites never get your permission to post your information. In fact, the only external organization that is authorized to post details about individuals is that of a government entity, which may be required by law to share information based on public records. Barring the legal requirements of government sites, people search sites and data brokers websites mean that your email, phone number, address and more are for sale across the web and on sites you’ve never even heard of! Search results on these sites are available 24 hours a day to anyone while wishes to conduct a people search.
Your Online Reputation is at Risk
In our everyday lives, we have each built a personal reputation that defines who we are and what we stand for. In today’s digital environment, our online reputation is of critical importance. Your online reputation tells people about you — positive or negative — and this can have a profound impact on many parts of your life. If you are a business owner, a positive online reputation can help you attract new customers and grow your company. A negative online reputation has the opposite effect, potentially interfering with your ability to achieve success. Individual reputations online can influence our ability to:
- Get a job.
- Apply for a home or vehicle loan.
- Explore new personal opportunities.
- Make personal connections with others, such as on social or dating sites.
When people search sites post information, they often make no attempt to verify the details they share with users. Some of the information may be outdated or factually incorrect. If old criminal records are posted, for example, this can damage a person’s reputation, even if the records are no longer valid or have been expunged from government databases. On websites that don’t verify the details it posts to the site, this inaccurate information can effectively ruin the reputation you have worked so hard for.
So, how can you protect your online reputation and privacy when you don’t know where your info is in the first place? Read on for more details on a fast background check opt-out.
Removing Information from or Opting Out of People Search Websites
Fortunately, there are ways to remove your personal data from nearly every background check site and search sites on the web. Record removal mechanisms exist, but the opt out request information may be hidden and may take a little while to search for. Some of the offending people search platforms have no easily discoverable opt out page, adding to your frustration.
One person is able to opt out of many people search websites with enough time and commitment. Understand that if you go it alone, please know this can be a long process. Contacting each webmaster is time-consuming — there’s also is no guarantee anyone will respond to your opt out request. In fact, this opt out process can sometimes take months or even years, depending on the site. In some cases, you may have no control over your own record, as people search sites do not honor requests to opt out of data collection and sharing.
But if you value your privacy, there are important steps you can take to protect it. Why is this so important? The odds are good your info is already on these background check websites. And, this info is directly tied to your online reputation, which is a critical aspect in the digital environment.
If you want to remove your private info, look no further. Our team has successfully removed personal records from these sites for over a decade. Our process is simple, fast and won’t break your budget.
Top Background Check Websites Sharing Personal Data
Below, we’ve listed the top background check sites in the industry. This means that if you remove yourself from these background databases, there’s a good chance your info — your name, your address, the names of your family members — will disappear from the smaller sites as well.
These sites include:
- Intelius.com
- Acxiom.com
- MyLife.com
- ZabaSearch.com
- Spoke.com
- BeenVerified.com
- PeekYou.com
- USSearch.com
- PeopleFinders.com
- PeopleLookup.com
- PeopleSmart.com
- WhitePages.com
- USA-People-Search.com
- PublicRecordsNow.com
- Radaris.com
The opt out process is different for every people search site, as you will see below. When you make an opt out request, it may take some time before search results reflect the removal of personal information from databases. The fact is that search results tend to linger long after information is removed.
Opt Out: How to Remove Yourself From Background Check Websites
How to remove your name from background check websites? While this opt out process can be time-consuming and tedious, there are ways to delete your personal info and take control of your own online privacy.
Here are the opt-out processes for some of the most popular background check sites on the web:
Intelius.com
Follow this link to opt out of Intelius.
Acxiom.com
Learn how to opt-out of Acxiom here.
Intelius.com
Follow this link to opt out of Intelius.
MyLife.com
To request that MyLife delete your Member Profile, contact MyLife Customer Care at 1-888-704-1900 or by email at privacy@mylife.com. After MyLife receives your request, the site recommends waiting ten business days to achieve results.
MyLife may contact you to confirm you are the profile owner requesting to opt out. The site claims that this is to “ensure the correct identity and profile ownership before completing these requests.” In most cases, a verification email will be sent to the person requesting the removal of information.
Zabasearch.com
Get the latest on Zabasearch opt-out here.
Spokeo.com
Opting out of Spokeo is fairly straightforward. You may receive a verification email once an opt out request is made.
Intelius.com
Follow this link to opt out of Intelius.
BeenVerified.com
Delete your info from Been Verified by following this opt-out process. Been Verified removal is relatively straightforward, and you may receive a confirmation email and/or verification code once your request has been processed.
Peekyou.com
The Peekyou.com opt out process starts here. Like many other people search portals, search results from this site may take time to reflect your request. You may also be asked to verify your identity when you opt to be removed.
USSearch.com
USSearch is one of the more popular data-aggregates on the web. Opt out of USSearch here.
PeopleFinders.com
Find your private data on PeopleFinders? Take steps to remove it here. Opt out of data sharing with a few simple steps.
PeopleLookup.com
To opt out of PeopleLookup, the site requires you to verify your identity. To do this, you must fax a state-issued ID card or driver’s license directly to the site. The ID must have your current address listed. When faxing a copy of your license, be sure to cross out your photo and the driver’s license number. You may also be required to send a verification email to the site to complete the opt out procedure.
PeopleLookup needs your name, address, and date of birth to confirm your identity. The site asks you to fax this info to 425-974-6194. Opt out requests may take 4-to-6 weeks to complete.
PeopleSmart.com
PeopleSmart opt out is fairly easy and generally takes just a few days to complete.
Whitepages.com
Visit this page for instructions on opting out of Whitepages.com. Like some of the other opt out procedures, you may be asked to prove your address and identity before a request is processed.
PublicRecordsNow.com
PublicRecordsNow.com is a third-party online background check website. Learn how to opt out here. A request may take several days to be processed, and you may be required to provide your current address or other personally-identifying data to verify who you are.
DOBSearch.com
Opting out of DOBsearch People Finder website search results requires faxed proof of identity to begin the opt out process. This can be a driver’s license, state-issued ID card or notarized letter with the requestee’s current address required to verify your identity. If you fax a copy of your driver’s license, block out your photo and license number. Fax your request to 516-717-3017 and allow about six weeks to complete your opt out request.
Details to Consider
It is important to recognize that the sites listed above are not the only places where your information is posted and shared via search results. To identify additional sites, consider conducting a Google search to turn up search results or other services you can use to opt out. When you find other search websites, you may opt to have your details removed by making a request. You may have to complete an identity verification by sharing your address, driver’s licensing information or other personal details to make sure you are legitimate; in other words, that you have the correct identity to make a removal request.
Social Media Websites Share Your Details
If you thought people search sites were the only places where strangers could find address or personal information about you, it’s time to consider platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. These social platforms are often used to conduct people search requests; old classmates or prospective employers may use the search tools on these sites to learn more about you. In essence, these social tools are the same thing as a people search platform, providing data that can be used to interfere with your life. Search results on these sites may reveal far more about you than you desire — potentially harming your online reputation and your ability to get a job, rent a car, make a connection with someone, or secure a home loan. Opt out of information sharing and search results by following the details listed on each social platform. A data removal request may take days or weeks to be completed. You may opt to speed up the process by deleting your account, permanently erasing personal data from search results. An even better way to opt out is to speak to one of our data removal experts at NetReputation.
More on Removing Yourself From Background Check Websites
There are over 50 sites sharing and selling your personal info to the masses. New people search sites appear on the web nearly every day, sharing the data that can identify you and affect your reputation. Do you want a stranger to learn your address, your telephone number, or the names of your children? Are you ready to take charge of the search results identifying you on the internet? We can help.
With a customized Background Check Removal solution from NetReputation, we can help you remove that info and data fast, providing the peace of mind you deserve. Everyone is entitled to privacy on the web, and we can assist you by helping you to opt out of data collection websites — effectively erasing the search results that can interfere with your everyday life. When we do the data opt out process for you, we stand behind our results.
How Can NetReputation Help?
Our specialists comb the web for all traces of your name online. Then we go to work, deleting your personal info from every Background Check site while putting you in control of your online footprint. With our help, you can remove personal information from search results, opt out of data collection, and secure the important data that criminals can use to harm you. These data include your address, details about your personal life and your family.
Was this article helpful? Want to learn more? Contact us today to get your free reputation analysis and remove your name, phone, address and loved ones’ info from sites across the web.
