Spokeo Opt-Out Guide

What Spokeo Knows About You

Spokeo claims to index almost 12 billion records from over 120 online sources. They've built a massive database by aggregating data that would take the average person years to collect manually. ^[1]

Your Spokeo profile might include:

• Contact information: Phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses
• Location history: Current and past addresses from USPS change-of-address forms, property records
• Social media: Handles and profile links scraped from public accounts
• Employment: Job history, workplace information
• Family connections: Names of relatives and associates
• Legal records: Court records, criminal history (from public sources)
• Property records: Home ownership, real estate transactions
• Financial indicators: Estimated income ranges, credit-related data

Where Spokeo Gets Your Data

Spokeo pulls information from: ^[2]

• Public records: Voter registration, property deeds, court filings, county and state records
• Phone directories: Traditional phone books and telecom company databases
• Social networks: Public profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other platforms
• Marketing databases: Survey responses, loyalty programs, shopping history
• Real estate listings: Home sale records, property assessments
• Business records: Corporate filings, professional licenses
• Credit bureaus: Basic information (not full credit reports)

Since all of this comes from "public" sources, Spokeo argues they don't need your consent. But combining these data points creates detailed profiles that expose far more than any single source would.

The Privacy Problem

Spokeo includes a disclaimer: their data "may not be complete, comprehensive, accurate or even up-to-date." They explicitly state their service is not a substitute for due diligence and should not be used for decisions covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) - like employment screening, tenant background checks, or credit decisions. ^[3]

The problem? People use it for exactly those things anyway. And Spokeo profits from selling access regardless of how the data is used.

Step-by-Step Opt-Out Process

Step 1: Find Your Profile

Go to Spokeo.com and search for yourself using:

• Your full name + city/state
• Your phone number
• Your email address

Important: Spokeo maintains separate listings for different identifiers. If you have multiple phone numbers, email addresses, or name variations (maiden name, nicknames), you may have multiple profiles. You'll need to opt out of each one separately.

Click on your listing to view the full profile and verify it's actually you (check the address, age, and relatives listed).

Step 2: Copy the Profile URL

Once you're on your profile page, copy the full URL from your browser's address bar. It will look something like:

https://www.spokeo.com/John-Smith/California/Los-Angeles/p123456789

You'll need this URL for the opt-out form.

Step 3: Go to the Opt-Out Page

Navigate to Spokeo's opt-out page:

https://www.spokeo.com/optout

You can also find this by scrolling to the footer on any Spokeo page and clicking "Do Not Sell My Info."

Step 4: Submit Your Request

1. Paste your profile URL into the URL field
2. Enter your email address
3. Complete the CAPTCHA verification
4. Click "Remove This Listing"

Step 5: Verify via Email

1. Check your email for a message from Spokeo
2. Click the verification link in the email
3. You should see a confirmation that your opt-out was successful

If you don't receive the email within a few minutes, check your spam/junk folder.

Step 6: Repeat for Additional Profiles

If you found multiple profiles (different phone numbers, emails, or name variations), repeat the process for each one. Spokeo's form only handles one listing at a time.

Alternative Methods

By Email

Send your request to [email protected] with:

• Subject: "Data Removal Request"
• Your full name
• Date of birth
• Current and previous addresses
• The URL(s) of your Spokeo profile(s)
• Clear request: "Please remove all my personal information from Spokeo"

By Phone

Call customer service at 1-888-271-9562 (5 AM - 8 PM PT daily). Be prepared to verify your identity and provide the profile URL(s) you want removed.

After Removal: Clear Search Engine Caches

Even after Spokeo removes your profile, search engines like Google may continue showing it in results due to cached data. To speed up removal from Google:

1. Go to Google's Results About You tool
2. Submit a request to remove the outdated Spokeo URLs from search results
3. Google will typically process these within days to weeks

California Residents: CCPA Rights

If you're a California resident, add this to your removal request:

"Pursuant to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.105, I am exercising my right to deletion. Please delete all personal information you have collected about me and confirm deletion within 45 days as required by law."

Your Data Will Reappear

What Opt-Out Doesn't Do

Removing your Spokeo profile:

• Does NOT remove you from other people search sites (BeenVerified, Whitepages, Radaris, etc.)
• Does NOT delete the underlying public records Spokeo scraped
• Does NOT prevent Spokeo from collecting new data about you
• Does NOT stop other data brokers from building similar profiles

For comprehensive protection, you need to opt out of multiple sites. See our People Search Opt-Out Index for the full list.

Troubleshooting

Can't Find Your Profile

• Try different name variations (maiden name, middle name, nicknames)
• Search by phone number instead of name
• Search by email address
• Try previous cities/states you've lived in

Verification Email Never Arrived

• Check spam/junk folders
• Wait 15 minutes and try again
• Try a different email address
• Contact [email protected] directly

Profile Still Visible After 48 Hours

• Clear browser cache and cookies
• Check from an incognito/private window
• Try from a different device
• Email [email protected] with your original confirmation

References

1. Spokeo Official Opt-Out Page
2. OneRep - Spokeo Opt-Out Guide
3. Spokeo Privacy Policy
4. Security.org - How to Opt Out of Spokeo