How to Remove Yourself From Whitepages [And Other Search Sites]

If you google yourself right now, you’ll be amazed by the sheer amount of personal info that is available online for all eyes to see. People search sites can come in handy when you want to look someone up, but not many people appreciate their own information being available to anyone who searches for it.

This is why this article is dedicated to showing you how to remove yourself from Whitepages as well as other people search sites. Keep reading to find out more!

What Are People Search Sites?

Let’s start by explaining what people search websites are. They help you search up people, or more specifically, people’s publicly available information.

In plain terms, these websites profit from selling people’s personal data to anyone interested in paying for it. People search websites pull all information from public records databases and simply collect it all in one place, making it more easily accessible for their customers. Otherwise, it would take you months to go through each source separately.

This may sound illegal and like a massive breach of privacy, but it isn’t. Before you rush to remove your info from Whitepages, know that no law prohibits Whitepages or similar websites from doing this because, as we already mentioned, all the information they offer is already in the public records, such as:

• Real estate transactions (including appraisals)
• Trademark filings
• Marriage licenses and divorce decrees
• Any unsealed lawsuits or legal actions
• Birth and death certificates
• Census statistics
• Voter registrations
• Driver’s licenses
• Utility companies’ information
• Government spending reports
• Political campaign contributions
• Sex offender registrations
• Legislation minutes
• Business and entity filings
• Professional and business licenses
• Criminal record information

Learning how to remove yourself from search sites will prevent info from these records from being easily accessible.

The Difference Between Background Check and People Search

Not all searches give such detailed information, though – that is reserved for more extensive background checks, which are usually used to get an in-depth knowledge of someone already familiar to you. These websites also offer a background check service and occasionally even free background checks.

Background checks are done during pre-employment screening, before purchasing a gun (criminal record check), and sometimes before signing a lease.

A people search, however, offers more basic information, such as your full name (or any other previous names), date of birth, address history, phone number, social media accounts, family members, etc., and is usually used to locate someone you’re not in contact with.

It’s Legal, but Is It Ethical?

Although they are technically legal, many people feel uneasy about these websites, so we don’t blame you for wanting to find out how to remove yourself from people search sites. But you should know both the positive and the negative aspects to make an informed decision.

The Positive Aspects

People search websites can help you locate a lost relative, a friend you’ve lost touch with, or an old colleague. They can have a wholesome role in reconnecting people.

The Negative Aspects

They contain information that gives people’s whereabouts and personal contact information. This makes it very easy for stalkers and people with bad intentions to get to their victims and encourages online bullying and real-life harassment.

Moreover, it makes it difficult for domestic violence victims to escape their aggressors. Even if they move, their new addresses will be available online. If they choose to stay at a relative’s place, their relatives can also be found easily.

Someone can also use this sensitive information to dox you or to commit identity theft.

The Verdict

So, in conclusion, as much as they can be useful, people search websites can also cause a lot of damage to some people. That is why it’s important to know how to remove yourself from websites such as Whitepages (and the internet itself) if you feel uncomfortable with your personal info being available to the general public.

Benefits of Removing Yourself From People Search Sites

Knowing how to remove yourself from people search websites comes with quite a few benefits. The main ones are increased safety and security, a higher level of privacy, and lower chances of your information being used for malicious purposes.

Privacy is becoming more precious and important to many people simply because it’s more and more difficult to obtain. Removing your name from Whitepages won’t deal with all your privacy concerns, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Removing Your Personal Information Will Be Easy, Right?

“Okay. I’m convinced,” you say, hopeful that you’ll regain your privacy with a few clicks, and all your info will disappear and be hidden from prying eyes. It’s that easy, isn’t it?

Wrong. Even if you decide to pay a visit to these websites and request that your information be removed, don’t get fooled into thinking that this will be a quick and easy process. Be warned – the people search removal process is rarely easy – that’s the general opinion shared by those who have gone through it.

• The first issue is the sheer amount of these websites

If you choose to do this process manually, you would have to deal with each people search site separately, and that can be a very long and tedious process. To make it easier for you, journalist Yael Grauer started a Google Docs list of these websites with opt-out links to help you tackle the issue faster and more efficiently. The list is sorted alphabetically and updated twice a year.

• Next, some websites purposefully make the opt-out process hard

Even though the removal process can be easy for some websites, many of them make it deliberately difficult in an effort to discourage you from doing it. This is usually done by making you opt out by phone, send physical letters, or even fax them your request. What year is it, again? Have some stamps on hand and make sure to locate a fax machine to be prepared.

• Another thing – public records are constantly updated

This means that even if you go through the grueling process of removing your info from these websites, it can still show up in the future when new info enters your public records. What we’re trying to say is that people search removal is not a one-time job – you have to do regular maintenance to make sure that new info doesn’t show up.

• There is also the option to pay for a service specializing in this

DeleteMe, PrivacyDuck, or OneRep are just a few services that offer to remove your data from a number of websites for a yearly fee. This is usually done on a monthly basis. They also offer package deals for more than one person or family deals.

However, if you do decide to go the manual route for removing your info, make sure to keep track of the websites you go through. It may also be a good idea to come back to some of them and check whether your info is truly gone.

So, without further ado, let us show you how to delete yourself from Whitepages and some other popular people search websites.

How to Remove Yourself From Whitepages

Whitepages is one of the oldest, most popular online databases currently on the internet. Since its start in 1997, it has constantly been adding new services to its repertoire.

Today some of those services include people search, background checks, finding a cell phone and landline number, business details, traffic and financial records, relatives search, and more.

Here is a step-by-step explanation of how to remove yourself from a Whitepages search:

Step 1: Go to whitepages.com and search your name in the “People Search” section.

Step 2: Find your listing among the search results and click “View Details.”

Step 3: Make sure that the information in the listing is yours and copy the URL from the address bar.

Step 4: Go to Whitepages’ opt-out site, paste your URL in the bar and click “Next.”

Step 5: Confirm that the profile you want to remove is yours.

Step 6: Give a reason why you’re opting out. Don’t worry – the reason won’t change the outcome of the opt-out process.

Step 7: Receive a call where you will need to provide a verification code given to you by Whitepages. Whitepages promises that they won’t use or sell the phone number you provide.

Step 8: Once you’ve successfully confirmed your identity during the phone call, Whitepages will start the process. This process should be completed within 72 hours.

Bonus: Removing Your Data From Whitepages Premium

Whitepages also has a paid premium version you should be aware of. Removing your info from Whitepages doesn’t necessarily remove it from Whitepages Premium, so make sure you take care of that as well.

Here is how to remove yourself from the Whitepages Premium database:

Step 1: Go to whitepages.com and search your name in the “People Search” section.

Step 2: Find your listing in the premium section and click “View Full Report.”

Step 3: Make sure that the information on the listing is yours, and copy the URL from the address bar.

Step 4: Go to their “Submit a request” page and select your issue as “I need to edit or remove a listing.”

Step 5: Enter your email address, the URL you just copied, your full name and address, city, state, and phone number.

Step 6: Select why you are requesting to remove yourself from Whitepages, write the subject of your request, and a short description. Add any attachments and click “Submit.” The processing of your request will start immediately, and the waiting time is 72 hours.

Even after you complete the process, make sure to double-check after a while to make sure your data has truly been removed. If that’s not the case, repeat the steps.

How to Remove Yourself From Other Search Sites

Whitepages may be a popular people search website, but it definitely isn’t the only one. We’ll take a look at a few more websites and show you how to remove your data from them.

Intelius

Intelius is one of the longest-running people search sites on the market. Intelius, the company, actually owns a hefty number of people search websites, such as Addresses.com, AddressSearch.com, AnyWho, Classmates, DateCheck, InstantPeopleFinder, iSearch, Lookup Anyone, PeopleConnect.us, PeopleFinder, PeopleLookup, Phonesbook, PublicRecords, Spock, and Zabasearch.

How to Opt Out From Intelius – A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Follow this opt-out link.

Step 2: Enter your full name, state, and email address. Click “Continue.”

Step 3: Find your listing and click “Remove This Record.”

Step 4: Open your email inbox, find the email from Intelius, and click “Confirm Email” to finish your removal request.

BeenVerified

BeenVerified is a major hub for people searches – they currently have around 100.000+ subscribers, so it should be one of your first stops when removing your info. BeenVerified also owns PeopleLooker and PeopleSmart.

How to Opt Out From BeenVerified – A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Follow this link to get to the opt-out search page.

Step 2: Enter your first and last name into the search bar, as well as your state. Click “Search.”

Step 3: Find your name among the listings and click on it.

Step 4: To finish off your opt-out request, enter your email address and click “Send Verification Email.”

Step 5: Open your email inbox, find the email from BeenVerified, and click “Verify Opt-Out” to finish your request.

Opting Out From Other People Search Websites

How to Opt Out From Spokeo – A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Go to Spokeo’s website and search for yourself.

Step 2: Find your listing from the results and click “See Results.”

Step 3: Copy the URL for your listing.

Step 4: Go to this Spokeo opt-out link.

Step 5: Paste your listing’s URL, enter your email address, and click “Remove This Listing.”

Step 6: Open your email inbox, find the Spokeo email, and click on the verification URL to finish your request.

How to Opt-Out From Instant Checkmate – A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Follow this Instant Checkmate opt-out link.

Step 2: Enter your first and last name, state, and city and click “Search.”

Step 3: Locate your listing on the results page and click “Remove This Record.”

Step 4: Enter your email and click “Send Confirmation Email.”

Step 5: Wait for the verification email and verify your request once it arrives.

How to Opt-Out From Pipl – A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Go to the Pipl opt-out link.

Step 2: Enter your first and last name and email address.

Step 3: In the “Message” field, give more details, explain that you want your listing removed, and click “Submit.”

Step 4: Over the next few days, Pipl will reach out to you via email for additional details. Once you provide them, your listing will be removed.

Bottom Line

Privacy is becoming increasingly harder to obtain, but it’s not an impossible feat – we’ve given you all that you need to begin this process. Removing yourself from the internet will give you peace of mind and ensure that your personal information will never be used against you.

We hope we’ve succeeded in helping you understand the importance of online privacy and showed you how to remove yourself from people’s search sites.