This TruePeopleSearch removal guide breaks down how to remove your information, why your data is listed, and what you can do to better protect your privacy going forward.
Prefer an automated option? The DuckDuckGo Subscription includes a Personal Information Removal tool to simplify the process. DuckDuckGo monitors sites such as TruePeopleSearch, automatically submits opt-out requests for you, and rescans every 10 days to help keep your personal data offline.
TruePeopleSearch Removal Fast Facts
- Personal information available: Names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, relatives, associates, and more
- Visibility: Mostly visible
- Opt-out time estimate: 15 to 30 minutes
- Difficulty: High
- Email confirmation required: Yes
- Phone confirmation required: No
- Processing time: Typically, within 1 hour of opt out
- Captcha requirement: hCaptcha required
TruePeopleSearch Removal Process (Step-by-step)
Opting out of TruePeopleSearch is fairly simple and doesn’t require much time. Here’s how you can remove your personal information from the site:
Step 1: Navigate to the TruePeopleSearch removal page
- Visit https://www.truepeoplesearch.com/removal. Enter your email address into the “Email” box.
- Check the box that states, “By checking this box I agree that I am the subject of the record I am requesting to be removed (i.e. it contains my name, address and/or phone numbers)."
- Complete the hCaptcha and click Begin Removal.
Step 2: Locate your TruePeopleSearch listing
- You can search by name, phone, email or address. We recommend searching by name; the data TruePeopleSearch gathers can be inaccurate, so your listing may not have your current phone, email or address data.
- Once you’ve filled in your first and last name, city, state, and/or zip code, click the Search magnifying glass.
- Scroll through the results and find your listing, then select View Details. Copy down the URL for the listing.
Step 3: Process the TruePeopleSearch removal request
- Scroll to the bottom of the page with your personal information. Click Remove This Record.
- You will see a message stating that an email was sent to the address provided.
- Go to your inbox and locate the email, titled, “Please complete your removal request.”
- Click the link, which will bring up a page that says, “Record removal request accepted. Your record should be removed everywhere from this site within 72 hours.”
- While they note 72 hours for the changes to take effect, you can typically go to the old record listing URL within one hour and see that the page has been removed.
- You will not receive any follow-up emails when your information is removed.
Note: If you find multiple TruePeopleSearch listings with your personal information during your initial search, you will need to follow Steps 2-3 for each listing. You should be able to submit up to five opt-out requests from the same email address.
Prefer an automated option? The DuckDuckGo Subscription includes a Personal Information Removal tool to simplify the process. DuckDuckGo monitors sites such as TruePeopleSearch, automatically submits opt-out requests for you, and rescans every 10 days to help keep your personal data offline.
My personal info is still in search engines. Why?
Even once your information is removed, search engines like Google and Bing may still display your TruePeopleSearch profile temporarily due to cached data that updates over time.
To remove outdated TruePeopleSearch content from Google, use their personally identifiable information removal tool linked here. For Bing, you can submit removal requests using this link. DuckDuckGo results can also be addressed through Bing’s process; more on that here.
It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks for search engines to refresh their listings, so if your TruePeopleSearch profile still appears, check back later or submit a follow-up removal request.
What is TruePeopleSearch?
TruePeopleSearch is a data broker that gathers publicly available personal information and makes it free to view online. They collect information from public records, phone directories, and online sources to compile personal profiles. These profiles are likely to include the following personal information:
- Full name (and previous names)
- Current and past addresses
- Phone numbers and email addresses
- Age and birthdate
- Relatives, neighbors, and associates
- Property ownership, arrest records, and more
TruePeopleSearch claims to help people reconnect, but its free access to personal information can also enable scams and stalking.
How does TruePeopleSearch get my information?
TruePeopleSearch collects data from various public sources, such as:
- Public Records and Government Databases: Property deeds, court filings, voter rolls, and business records are all part of TruePeopleSearch profiles.
- Third-Party Data Brokers: TruePeopleSearch taps into other brokers that collect personal data through online purchases, apps, and services.
- Social Media and Internet Activity: Public profiles and posts from sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter can also appear in search results.
- Utility Records and Phone Directories: Any phone number or address that’s listed publicly is likely to end up in TruePeopleSearch’s database.
TruePeopleSearch frequently refreshes its data, so even after a successful opt-out, you should check back regularly — and opt out again when needed — to make sure your information stays off.
Frequently Asked Questions About TruePeopleSearch Removal
Can I remove my information permanently from TruePeopleSearch?
Yes, you can. But because TruePeopleSearch updates its database regularly, your personal information may reappear, so checking back and resubmitting removal requests is advised.
Does TruePeopleSearch sell my information?
No. TruePeopleSearch does not sell reports directly, but it aggregates data from other public databases and data brokers.
Will removing my information from TruePeopleSearch remove it from other sites?
Removing your personal information from TruePeopleSearch will remove it from related sites including SmartBackgroundChecks and others connected to the same data network.
Submitting a TruePeopleSearch removal reduces the availability of your data, making it less likely for other data brokers to collect and reuse it.
Are there services that can remove my data automatically?
There are removal services that focus specifically on helping people remove their personal information from TruePeopleSearch and other data brokers.
The DuckDuckGo Subscription offers Personal Information Removal for US users, automatically handling opt-out requests and checking every 10 days to make sure your data stays removed.
How can I prevent my information from appearing on sites like TruePeopleSearch?
Although fully scrubbing your data from the internet is difficult, several smart steps can help reduce its visibility.
- Keep personal details off public social media posts and adjust your profile settings so they’re only visible to close connections or friends.
- Take the time to opt out from data brokers beyond TruePeopleSearch, including Whitepages, Spokeo, Intelius, and others that host personal records.
- Enhance your online privacy with DuckDuckGo’s private search engine & browser and Email Protection service to mask your email.
Our Final Thoughts
TruePeopleSearch puts personal data at risk, but they offer a free opt-out process that’s effective if you keep monitoring for reappearances.
For long-term privacy, be sure to opt out from other data brokers or use the DuckDuckGo Subscription to automate the process.
For more ways to protect your privacy, visit the DuckDuckGo blog and subscribe to our newsletter.