Spokeo Opt Out: The Complete Guide to Removing Your Personal Information

What is Spokeo and Why Should You Opt Out?

Spokeo is a people search website that aggregates personal information from public records, social media, and other online sources to create detailed profiles on individuals. According to Spokeo's own data, the site maintains approximately 6 billion consumer records, 600 million court records, and 130 million property records. That's a staggering amount of personal information available to anyone willing to search for it.

The profiles Spokeo creates can include your current and past addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, family members, social media accounts, location history, and even criminal records. While Spokeo claims this information is publicly available, having it all aggregated in one searchable database creates serious privacy and security risks.

Here's why removing your information matters:

• Identity theft prevention: Criminals can use aggregated personal data to steal your identity or answer security questions for your accounts
• Protection from stalking and harassment: Bad actors can use Spokeo to track down victims
• Reducing spam and scam calls: Data brokers sell your contact information to marketers and scammers
• Professional reputation management: Inaccurate information on Spokeo can affect how others perceive you

How to Opt Out of Spokeo: Step-by-Step Process

The good news is that Spokeo provides a free opt-out process. The bad news is they don't make it particularly easy to find. Here's exactly how to remove your information:

Step 1: Find Your Spokeo Profile

First, you need to locate your listing on Spokeo. Go to Spokeo.com and search for yourself using your name, email address, phone number, or address. Be thorough—you may have multiple listings, and each one requires a separate opt-out request.

Pro tip: Avoid using Spokeo's standard search from the homepage, as it triggers a slow-loading process. Instead, use Google to search for your name plus "Spokeo" to find direct links to your profiles faster.

Step 2: Copy Your Profile URL

Once you find a listing that contains your information, you need to copy the complete URL from your browser's address bar. This URL is essential for the opt-out process—Spokeo won't process removal requests without it.

If you find multiple listings with your information, save each URL separately. You'll need to submit individual opt-out requests for each one.

Step 3: Navigate to the Opt-Out Page

Go directly to spokeo.com/optout. You can also find this by scrolling to the bottom of Spokeo's homepage and clicking "Do Not Sell My Info." On the opt-out page, look for the section titled "Opt Out Your Listing from Spokeo."

Step 4: Submit Your Opt-Out Request

Paste your profile URL into the designated field, enter your email address, and complete the CAPTCHA verification. Then click "Opt Out." Consider using a disposable or alias email address for this step to maintain your privacy.

Step 5: Verify Your Email

Check your inbox for a confirmation email from Spokeo. Click the verification link in the email to complete your opt-out request. If you don't see the email, check your spam folder.

Step 6: Wait for Processing

Spokeo typically processes opt-out requests within 24-72 hours. After this period, search for your information on Spokeo again to confirm it's been removed.

Common Issues and How to Solve Them

The Spokeo opt-out process isn't always smooth. Here are common problems people encounter and how to resolve them:

Error Messages During Opt-Out

If you encounter error messages when submitting your URL, try using an incognito or private browser window. Ad blockers can also interfere with the process, so temporarily disable them if you're having trouble.

Can't Find the Live Chat

Spokeo's "Get Help Now" button for live chat won't work if you have an ad blocker enabled. Turn off your ad blocker to access customer support. Alternatively, you can email Spokeo directly at [email protected] or call their customer service line at 1-888-271-9562 (available 5 AM-8 PM PT daily).

Multiple Listings

If your information appears in multiple Spokeo listings, you'll need to repeat the entire opt-out process for each one. There's no bulk removal option available.

Can't Access Your Profile URL

Some users report difficulty accessing their profile URL due to paywalls. If this happens, contact Spokeo's customer service directly with your full name and any other identifying information they can use to locate your profile.

Why Your Information May Reappear

Here's something most guides don't tell you: opting out of Spokeo is not a permanent solution. Spokeo continuously updates its databases with new public records, which means your information can reappear after you've removed it.

The reality is that Spokeo scrapes data from public records databases and other people-search sites. If you move, buy property, file a change of address, or appear in any new public record, Spokeo may add you back to their database without notice.

This creates an ongoing maintenance problem. You may need to check Spokeo periodically (every 3-6 months) and resubmit opt-out requests if your information reappears.

Removing Spokeo Results from Google

Even after Spokeo removes your profile, search engines like Google and Bing may still display cached versions of the page for days or weeks. To speed up this process:

• Google: Use Google's personally identifiable information removal tool to request removal of outdated Spokeo content from search results
• Bing: Submit removal requests through Bing's content removal tool

It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks for search engines to refresh their listings and remove the cached pages.

Beyond Spokeo: Protecting Your Information Long-Term

Spokeo is just one of hundreds of data broker sites that may have your personal information. Other major people search sites include Whitepages, BeenVerified, PeopleFinder, Radaris, Intelius, TruthFinder, and MyLife. If your information is on Spokeo, it's almost certainly on many of these other sites as well.

For comprehensive protection, you'll need to:

• Opt out from multiple data brokers: Budget several hours (or days) to work through the major people search sites
• Minimize your public digital footprint: Adjust privacy settings on social media and be selective about what personal information you share online
• Monitor regularly: Check data broker sites periodically to catch any reappearances
• Consider automated services: Data removal services like Lusha and similar privacy tools can automate the opt-out process across multiple sites

What Information Do Data Brokers Actually Have?

If you're concerned about what Spokeo knows about you, you might be surprised by the breadth of information data brokers collect. Beyond basic contact details, these sites often compile:

• Current and historical home addresses
• Phone numbers (including cell phones)
• Email addresses
• Names of relatives and associates
• Property ownership records
• Court records and legal filings
• Social media profiles
• Professional history
• Estimated income and wealth data

This is why knowing what's out there about you matters. Before you can protect your privacy, you need to understand your current exposure. Our free Background Checker tool can help you see what information is publicly available about you—the same information that data brokers like Spokeo are collecting and selling.

Using Background Checks to Your Advantage

While protecting your own privacy is important, there are legitimate reasons to research others. Sales professionals need to verify prospect information. Recruiters need to validate candidates. Business owners need to vet potential partners.

The key is using reputable sources that provide accurate, ethically-sourced information. If you need to verify someone's identity or find contact information for legitimate business purposes, tools like our Email Finder can help you locate professional email addresses without relying on potentially outdated or inaccurate data broker information.

For comprehensive background information with trust scores that help you evaluate data quality, check out Galadon's free Background Checker. Unlike people search sites that may display outdated or inaccurate information, our tool aggregates data from verified sources and provides transparency about where information comes from.

Final Thoughts on Spokeo Privacy

Opting out of Spokeo is a worthwhile step toward protecting your privacy, but it's important to understand the limitations. The process is free but requires ongoing maintenance as your data may reappear. And Spokeo is just one of many data brokers—comprehensive privacy protection requires a broader strategy.

Start with Spokeo since it's one of the largest and most visible people search sites. Then work through other major data brokers systematically. Monitor your digital footprint regularly, and consider whether automated privacy services make sense for your situation.

Your personal information has value—to you and to the companies that profit from selling it. Taking control of that information is the first step toward better privacy and security in an increasingly data-driven world.