Here’s how to remove yourself from all major background check websites

Have you ever thoroughly audited how much of your personal information appears online? Have you ever meticulously scoured the Internet to find all shreds of your personal data that are publically available? Probably not. Most haven’t, at least, not beyond tightening the privacy settings on their social media accounts. With nearly every online service requiring a sign-up, it’s easy to lose track of how much is available and where making us increasingly vulnerable to hacking and identity theft. One way to minimize this risk is to remove yourself from all background checking websites.

Below you’ll find a list of all the major public records and background check websites, along with direct links and instructions on how to remove your information from their databases. Many require that you upload a scanned image of your state issued ID, taking care to black out your picture and drivers number, leaving only your name, address, and date of birth visible. The simplest way to do this prepare the needed documents in advance.

The last thing to consider: while multiple online “services” bill themselves as agents with power of attorney capable of acting on your behalf, requests sent from these services will not be honored by data-mining companies. The only external organization whose requests will be honored is the Direction Marketing Association (DMA), as it is the official trade group of direct marketing companies. Visit DMAchoice.org to opt-out.

1. Intelius.com; opt-out
2. Acxiom.com; opt-out
3. LexisNexis; opt-out
4. ZabaSearch.com; opt-out
5. Spoke.com; opt-out
   
6. BeenVerified.com; Follow LawyerCT’s guide
7. PeekYou.com; opt-out
8. USSearch.com; opt-out
9. PeopleFinders.com; opt-out
10. PeopleSmart.com; opt-out
11. PrivateEye.com; opt-out
12. WhitePages.com; opt-out
13. USA-People-Search.com; opt-out
14. Spokeo.com; opt-out
15. Radaris.com; opt-out
16. MyLife.com requires that you contact the Customer Care number, or send an email to privacy@mylife.com with a takedown request. The company will remove your profile within ten business days, and may find it necessary to contact you to validate that you are the profile owner requesting the removal.
17. PeopleLookup.com requires users to submit proof of identity by faxing in a copy of their driver’s license with a blacked out photo and license number. Processing will commence once the fax is received, and takes approximately four to six weeks. The fax number is 425-975-6194
18. DOBSearch requires a notarized letter or a faxed proof of identity similar to PeopleLookup. Processing takes four to six weeks. The fax number is 516-717-3017.

Source: Reddit, courtesy ofLawyerCT