How to Opt Out of TruthFinder and Remove Your Personal Information

What Is TruthFinder and Why Should You Opt Out?

TruthFinder is one of the most popular people search websites in the United States. With just a name and city, anyone can access sensitive information about you, including your home address, phone numbers, criminal history, social media profiles, relatives, and more. The site is owned by PeopleConnect and pulls data from billions of public records, court documents, and other data sources.

While TruthFinder markets itself as a tool for reconnecting with friends or running background checks, the reality is that your personal information is being monetized and made available to anyone willing to pay. This creates legitimate privacy and safety concerns—from stalkers and scammers to unwanted solicitations and identity theft risks.

The good news? You can opt out of TruthFinder for free. The process takes about 10-15 minutes, and your listing should be removed within 48-72 hours. Let's walk through exactly how to do it.

Understanding Your Options: Suppression vs. Deletion

Before starting the opt-out process, you need to understand the two options TruthFinder offers:

Option 1: Suppress Your Data

Suppression prevents people from finding your information through TruthFinder searches. Your data stays in their database but becomes invisible to users. This is the option TruthFinder pushes because it helps prevent your profile from being recreated in the future—their system can recognize your suppressed record and keep it hidden.

The downside? Your data still exists in their database, which means it could be exposed if TruthFinder experiences a data breach. (And they have—PeopleConnect suffered a major breach exposing data from approximately 20 million customers.)

Option 2: Delete Your Data

Complete deletion removes all information TruthFinder has collected about you. However, this also removes your suppression request, meaning TruthFinder can simply re-add you to their database when they scrape new public records.

For most people, we recommend suppression as the more practical choice for ongoing protection, even though it feels counterintuitive to leave your data with them.

Step-by-Step TruthFinder Opt-Out Process

Here's the exact process to remove your information from TruthFinder:

Step 1: Navigate to the Opt-Out Page

Go to TruthFinder.com and scroll to the bottom of the homepage. Look for the "TRUTHFINDER RESOURCES" section and click on "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information." This will redirect you to PeopleConnect's Suppression Center.

Pro tip: Don't use TruthFinder's standard search function first—it's slow and designed to keep you on the site longer. Go directly to the opt-out process.

Step 2: Enter Your Email Address

Enter a valid email address in the field provided. You'll need access to this email to verify your request. Check the box to agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, then click "Continue."

Important: Consider using a secondary email address for privacy removal requests. This keeps your primary inbox cleaner and provides some separation if that email gets added to marketing lists.

Step 3: Verify Your Email

Check your inbox for an email from PeopleConnect. Click the "Verify Email" link to confirm your identity. If you don't see it within a few minutes, check your spam folder.

Step 4: Enter Your Personal Information

You'll be asked to provide:

• Your date of birth
• Your full legal name (first, middle, and last)
• Any previous names you've used (maiden names, etc.)

This information helps TruthFinder locate and match your records accurately.

Step 5: Find and Select Your Record

TruthFinder will display a list of potential matches. Look for the listing that contains your current or previous information. If you have multiple listings (common if you've moved frequently or have a common name), you'll need to submit separate opt-out requests for each one.

Step 6: Request Verification Code

Depending on your situation, you may need to verify your identity further. TruthFinder may send a verification code to your phone number or email if they don't already have the email you're using in their database.

Step 7: Complete the Opt-Out

Select "Suppressed" in the "Desired Behavior" dropdown menu to hide your information from TruthFinder. Click "Save" to finalize your opt-out request.

Alternative Methods: Phone and Email Removal Requests

If you run into technical issues with the online process, you have backup options:

• Phone: Call TruthFinder at 1-855-921-3711 during business hours (7 AM - 4 PM PT, Monday through Friday). Have your personal information ready to verify your identity.
• Email: Send your removal request to [email protected]. Include your full name, date of birth, current and previous addresses, and either a screenshot of your record or the URL to your listing.

Note that email and phone requests may take longer to process than using the online suppression tool.

After You Opt Out: What to Expect

TruthFinder typically processes opt-out requests within 48 hours. After that window, clear your browser cache and use incognito mode to verify your listing has been removed.

Dealing with Search Engine Caches

Even after TruthFinder removes your listing, it may still appear in Google or Bing search results for a while. Search engines periodically refresh cached pages, which can take days to weeks. To speed up removal from search results:

• Use Google's Personal Data Removal Request tool to request removal of outdated content
• Submit a removal request through Bing's content removal process
• Set up Google Alerts for your name + "TruthFinder" to monitor if your listing reappears

What If Your Information Reappears?

Unfortunately, data brokers like TruthFinder continuously scrape public records. If new public records appear with your information—maybe you moved, bought property, or appeared in court records—TruthFinder may create a new profile that doesn't match your suppressed record.

This is why ongoing monitoring is essential. Set a reminder to check TruthFinder every 60-90 days, or consider using an automated data removal service that continuously submits opt-out requests on your behalf.

State Privacy Rights: Additional Protections

If you're a resident of California, Virginia, Connecticut, Utah, or Colorado, state data privacy laws give you additional rights. These include:

• The right to know what data is being collected about you
• The right to delete that data
• The right to opt out of the sale of your data
• The right to add a "Do Not Sell" tag to your information

TruthFinder's Data Privacy Center has specific options for residents of these states. Make sure to explore these additional protections if you qualify.

The Bigger Picture: TruthFinder Is Just One of Many

Here's the uncomfortable truth: opting out of TruthFinder is just one step in protecting your privacy. There are hundreds of data broker and people search sites—Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, Intelius, Instant Checkmate, and many more—all collecting and selling your information.

When you opt out of TruthFinder through PeopleConnect's suppression tool, you're also opted out of their other properties, including Instant Checkmate, USSearch, and Intelius. That's a nice bonus. But dozens of other unaffiliated data brokers still have your information.

Building a Comprehensive Privacy Strategy

To truly protect your information, consider these additional steps:

• Audit your digital footprint: Google yourself regularly to see what's publicly visible
• Tighten social media settings: Set profiles to private and limit the personal details you share publicly
• Use our free Background Checker to see what information about you is publicly accessible and get a comprehensive view of your digital footprint
• Verify email addresses: Use our Email Verifier to confirm that any communications you receive from data brokers are legitimate before clicking links
• Reduce public records exposure: Consider using a registered agent for property or business filings

For B2B Professionals: Understanding Both Sides

If you work in sales, recruiting, or marketing, you're likely both a user of people search data and someone concerned about your own privacy. It's a legitimate tension.

The key is understanding the difference between ethical prospecting and privacy invasion. Professional contact information for business purposes is different from exposing someone's home address, relatives, and criminal history to anyone with $20.

For your outreach needs, focus on business email and professional contact data rather than personal information scraped from public records. Our Mobile Number Finder helps you find professional contact information through ethical means, connecting you with prospects through business channels rather than personal data brokers.

Final Thoughts

Opting out of TruthFinder won't completely erase your digital footprint, but it's an important step in taking back control of your personal information. The process is free, takes about 10-15 minutes, and your information should be suppressed within 48-72 hours.

Remember to check back periodically—data brokers are persistent, and new records can trigger new profiles. Consider making data broker opt-outs a regular part of your personal privacy routine, just like changing passwords or reviewing your credit report.

Your personal information has value. Make sure you're the one who controls how it's used.