How to Remove Yourself from PeopleConnect

What is PeopleConnect and Why Your Data is There

PeopleConnect is one of the largest data broker networks operating in the United States. The company aggregates personal information from hundreds of public and private sources, then packages and sells this data to third parties including marketers, researchers, and other commercial entities.

Your information likely ended up in PeopleConnect's database through one or more of these channels:

• Public records: Court documents, property records, voter registration information, and business filings are legally accessible and frequently purchased by data brokers
• Voluntary submissions: Information you've provided to websites, apps, or services that later sold your data
• Data aggregation: PeopleConnect purchases information from other brokers and data sources
• Online activity tracking: Browsing habits, purchase history, and social media activity collected through cookies and tracking pixels

Unlike some data brokers that focus on a single niche, PeopleConnect maintains comprehensive profiles on millions of Americans. These profiles typically include names, phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, age, family relationships, and sometimes financial information.

The concerning part? This data is available for purchase by anyone willing to pay, which means your personal information could be accessed by scammers, stalkers, or unwanted marketers. This is precisely why removing yourself from PeopleConnect is an important step in protecting your privacy.

Understanding PeopleConnect's Data Collection Practices

What Information Does PeopleConnect Collect?

PeopleConnect maintains detailed profiles containing:

• Full name and name variations
• Current and previous addresses
• Phone numbers (landline and mobile)
• Email addresses
• Age and date of birth
• Family relationships and relatives' names
• Property ownership information
• Occupation and employment history
• Social media profiles and usernames
• Purchase history and consumer behavior
• Financial information (in some cases)

This comprehensive data collection makes PeopleConnect one of the most invasive data brokers operating today. The company doesn't just store this information—they actively market it to businesses and individuals seeking detailed consumer profiles.

How They Source Your Data

PeopleConnect uses multiple acquisition methods:

• Public records purchases: Buying bulk data from government agencies and public record repositories
• Third-party data broker relationships: Acquiring information from other brokers and data aggregators
• Direct data sales: Purchasing information from companies that collect consumer data
• Online scraping: Extracting information from public websites and social media profiles
• Customer submissions: Collecting data from users of their own services and websites

Understanding these sources is important because it explains why a single removal request might not be completely effective—your data may continue to be re-added as PeopleConnect acquires updated information from their sources.

Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Yourself from PeopleConnect

Method 1: Manual Removal Through PeopleConnect's Website

Step 1: Access the PeopleConnect Removal Portal

Navigate to PeopleConnect's official website. Look for their privacy or removal request page. PeopleConnect maintains an opt-out portal specifically designed for removal requests, though they don't always make it prominently visible.

Step 2: Locate Your Profile

• Use the search function to find your profile
• Enter your full name and state of residence
• Review all profiles that match your information
• Note the exact URL or profile ID for each listing you want removed

Step 3: Submit an Opt-Out Request

• Click the removal or opt-out option on your profile
• You may be asked to verify your identity by providing:

- Full name

- Current address

- Email address

- Phone number

- Date of birth

• Complete the verification process as requested
• Submit your removal request

Step 4: Confirm Your Email

• Check your email inbox for a confirmation message from PeopleConnect
• Click the confirmation link if provided
• This step verifies that the removal request is legitimate

Method 2: Removal via Direct Contact

If the online portal doesn't work or you prefer written communication:

Step 1: Gather Required Information

• Your full name
• Current address
• Date of birth
• Any previous names or aliases
• Email address and phone number

Step 2: Send a Formal Removal Request

Contact PeopleConnect's privacy department directly. You can typically find contact information on their website or through the following approach:

• Send an email to their privacy or support address
• Include "Data Removal Request" in the subject line
• Provide clear identification information
• Explicitly state that you want all your personal information removed from their databases
• Request written confirmation of removal

Step 3: Include Verification Details

Make your request more likely to be processed by including:

• A copy of a government-issued ID (redacted for security)
• Proof of address (utility bill, lease agreement)
• Any reference numbers from previous removal requests

Step 4: Send via Certified Mail

For additional documentation:

• Send your removal request via certified mail with return receipt
• This creates a paper trail proving you submitted the request
• Keep copies of everything you send

Method 3: Removal Through State Privacy Laws

Many states have enacted laws giving residents the right to know what data brokers hold and to request deletion. If you live in a state with comprehensive privacy legislation, you may have additional removal rights.

For CCPA Compliance (California):

If you're a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to delete personal information
• Right to opt-out of data sales
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

Submit a CCPA request to PeopleConnect specifically citing your California residency and your rights under the law.

For GDPR Compliance (International):

If you're located in the European Union, GDPR provides the right to be forgotten:

• Submit a formal deletion request citing Article 17 of GDPR
• PeopleConnect must respond within 30 days
• They must delete your data unless they have a legal basis to retain it

For Other State Laws:

Check if your state has passed privacy legislation (Virginia's VCDPA, Colorado's CPA, Connecticut's CTDPA, Utah's UCPA) and submit requests accordingly.

How Long Does PeopleConnect Removal Take?

Expected Timeline

Initial Processing: 5-10 business days

• PeopleConnect processes removal requests during standard business hours
• They may take longer during high-volume periods
• Email confirmation typically arrives within this window

Profile Deletion: 10-30 days

• After confirming your request, the actual removal from databases takes additional time
• Data must be purged from multiple systems and backup servers
• Complete removal may take up to a month

Search Engine Indexing: 30-90 days

• Even after PeopleConnect removes your profile, search engines may still cache it
• Google's cache typically updates within 30 days
• Bing and other search engines may take longer

Why It Takes So Long

Several factors contribute to removal timelines:

• Data redundancy: Your information exists in multiple databases and backups
• Data re-acquisition: If PeopleConnect continues acquiring your data from other sources, it may be re-added
• System updates: Batch processing systems may not update in real-time
• Verification processes: They need to confirm you are who you claim to be

How to Verify Your Removal from PeopleConnect

Immediate Verification (Days 1-5)

Step 1: Check Your Email

• Confirm you received a removal confirmation email
• This email should include:

- Confirmation that your request was received

- A reference or case number

- Expected removal timeline

- Instructions for follow-up

Step 2: Keep Documentation

• Save the confirmation email
• Screenshot the removal page if available
• Note the date and time of your request
• Store this documentation for future reference

Ongoing Verification (Days 10-30)

Step 1: Search for Your Profile

After the stated removal period:

• Visit PeopleConnect's website
• Search for your name and location
• Verify that your profile no longer appears
• Try variations of your name (middle name, maiden name, nicknames)

Step 2: Use Google Search

• Search your name in quotes: "Your Full Name"
• Look specifically for PeopleConnect results
• Check the first few pages of results
• Repeat this search weekly for a month

Step 3: Check the Wayback Machine

• Visit archive.org
• Search for your PeopleConnect profile URL
• This shows historical versions of the page
• Confirms when the page was last accessible

Long-Term Verification (30+ Days)

Step 1: Repeat Monthly Searches

• Continue searching for your name on PeopleConnect
• Search on Google for your information
• Check for re-listing under different name variations

Step 2: Set Up Google Alerts

• Create Google Alerts for your name
• Receive notifications if new results appear
• This helps catch any re-listing quickly

Step 3: Document Any Reappearance

If your profile reappears:

• Take screenshots
• Note the date
• Submit another removal request
• File a complaint with your state's attorney general if necessary

Preventing Future Listings on PeopleConnect

Limit Your Data Footprint

Reduce Public Information:

• Review your social media privacy settings
• Make profiles private or friends-only
• Remove unnecessary personal details from public profiles
• Avoid posting your phone number or address online

Opt Out of Other Data Brokers:

• Remove yourself from other brokers that feed PeopleConnect
• Target brokers like Whitepages, Spokeo, and BeenVerified
• Use data broker comparison tools to identify which brokers have your data

Use Privacy-Focused Services:

• Consider using a virtual phone number for signups
• Use a separate email address for online shopping
• Utilize privacy-focused browsers and VPNs
• Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts

Manage Your Public Records

Request Sealed Records:

• Work with an attorney to seal court records if eligible
• Request address confidentiality programs in your state
• Some states allow victims of abuse to protect their information

Opt Out of Voter Registration:

• Many states allow removal from public voter rolls
• Contact your state's election office
• This removes one major source of data broker information

Property Record Privacy:

• Some states allow property owners to request privacy protections
• Contact your county assessor's office
• Ask about address confidentiality options

Monitor Your Information

Regular Searches:

• Search your name monthly on major data brokers
• Use free tools to check if your data appears online
• Set Google Alerts for your name and variations

Credit Monitoring:

• Monitor your credit reports annually (free at annualcreditreport.com)
• Check for suspicious accounts or inquiries
• Consider credit freezes to prevent identity theft

Alternative: Automated Removal with GhostMyData

While the manual removal process works, it requires significant time and effort—and it's often temporary. Data brokers like PeopleConnect continuously re-acquire your information from new sources, meaning you may need to request removal multiple times.

Why Choose Automated Removal?

Time Savings: Manual removal from even one data broker takes 5-10 hours when you factor in research, verification, and follow-up. Removing yourself from dozens of brokers could take 50+ hours.

Comprehensive Coverage: GhostMyData removes your data from PeopleConnect and 200+ other data brokers simultaneously, not just one.

Ongoing Protection: We don't just remove your data once—we monitor the major data brokers and re-submit removal requests automatically when your information reappears.

Expert Handling: Our team understands the unique removal requirements of each data broker, including:

• Proper identity verification procedures
• State-specific privacy law compliance
• Correct contact methods for each broker
• Follow-up protocols when initial requests fail

How GhostMyData Works

Step 1: Free Scan

Start with our free scan to see which data brokers have your information. You'll get a personalized report showing exactly where your data appears online.

Step 2: Choose Your Plan

Review our pricing options. We offer flexible plans ranging from single-broker removal to comprehensive protection across all major data brokers.

Step 3: We Handle Everything

• Submit removal requests to all selected data brokers
• Handle verification and identity confirmation
• Track removal status and timelines
• Submit follow-up requests if data reappears
• Provide monthly reports on your removal progress

Step 4: Ongoing Monitoring

With our premium plans, we continuously monitor whether your data reappears and automatically re-submit removal requests. This means you don't have to manually check and re-request removal every few months.

Why GhostMyData is Better Than DIY

Factor

Manual Removal

GhostMyData

Time Required	50-100+ hours	15 minutes setup
Brokers Covered	1-5 (if you're thorough)	200+
Ongoing Monitoring	Manual (your responsibility)	Automatic
Success Rate	Variable (depends on your effort)	95%+
Cost	Free (but your time)	Affordable plans starting low
Expertise Required	High (research each broker)	None (we handle it)

FAQ: PeopleConnect Removal Questions

How do I know if PeopleConnect has my information?

You can search for yourself on PeopleConnect's website directly. Visit their site and use their search function with your name and state. If a profile appears with your information, you have confirmation that they have your data. Alternatively, our free scan will check PeopleConnect along with 200+ other data brokers and show you exactly what information they're holding.

Can I remove my information permanently?

Unfortunately, no—not permanently in the traditional sense. PeopleConnect continues acquiring your information from public records and other sources, so your data may be re-added months or years after removal. However, you can request removal as often as needed, and you can work to limit your public information footprint to reduce how much new data they acquire. Our ongoing monitoring service helps by automatically re-submitting removal requests when your information reappears.

Does PeopleConnect charge a fee to remove my information?

No, PeopleConnect cannot legally charge you to remove your personal information. Any removal request must be processed free of charge. If you encounter a request for payment, you're likely dealing with a scam or fraudulent website. Always use official PeopleConnect channels and never pay for data removal.

What if PeopleConnect doesn't respond to my removal request?

If you don't receive confirmation within 10 business days, follow up with another request. If PeopleConnect continues to ignore your removal requests, you have several options:

• File a complaint with your state's attorney general
• If you're in California, file a complaint with the California Attorney General's Office
• Submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• Contact an attorney about potential privacy violations
• Use a service like GhostMyData that specializes in handling non-responsive brokers

Will removing myself from PeopleConnect protect me from identity theft?

Removing yourself from PeopleConnect is an important privacy protection step, but it's not a complete identity theft prevention solution. Identity theft protection requires multiple layers:

• Credit monitoring and fraud alerts
• Strong, unique passwords
• Two-factor authentication
• Regular credit report checks
• Limiting public information
• Being cautious with personal information online

Removing yourself from data brokers reduces the amount of information available to potential criminals, which does reduce your risk, but should be combined with other protective measures.

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Take Control of Your Privacy Today

Your personal information shouldn't be for sale to the highest bidder. While removing yourself from PeopleConnect is possible through manual effort, it's time-consuming and often temporary.

GhostMyData makes privacy protection simple. Our how it works process removes your data from PeopleConnect and 200+ other data brokers, then monitors to ensure it stays removed.

Start with our free scan to see exactly which data brokers have your information. Then choose the plan that fits your privacy needs. Most people are shocked to discover how many companies are selling their personal data—and relieved to finally have it removed.

Stop letting data brokers profit from your information. Take back control of your privacy with GhostMyData.