How to Remove Yourself from Spokeo

What Spokeo Knows About You

Spokeo compiles information from hundreds of millions of records, including:

• Current and past addresses
• Phone numbers and email addresses
• Names of relatives and associates
• Social media profiles
• Criminal records and court documents
• Property records
• Employment history

According to Spokeo's own database statistics, they maintain over 130 million property records, 600 million court records, and 6 billion consumer records.

Why You Should Opt Out

Having this information publicly searchable creates real risks:

• Identity theft: Criminals can piece together enough data to impersonate you
• Stalking and harassment: Abusers can locate victims who have relocated
• Doxxing: Bad actors can expose your private information online
• Unwanted contact: Telemarketers and scammers can find you easily

Step-by-Step Removal Process

Step 1: Find Your Profile

Go to spokeo.com and search for your name. You may have multiple listings, especially if you've moved or changed your name. Each listing has a unique URL that must be opted out individually.

Step 2: Copy the Profile URL

When you find a listing that contains your information, copy the full URL from your browser's address bar. It will look something like: https://www.spokeo.com/John-Smith/California/Los-Angeles/p123456789

Step 3: Submit Your Opt-Out Request

1. Go to Spokeo's opt-out page: spokeo.com/optout
2. Paste your profile URL into the form
3. Enter an email address (consider using a separate email created specifically for opt-out requests)
4. Complete the CAPTCHA verification
5. Click "Remove This Listing"

Step 4: Verify Your Request

Check your email inbox for a confirmation message from Spokeo. Click the verification link to complete the removal process. Your information should be removed within 24-72 hours.

Step 5: Check for Additional Listings

Search Spokeo again using variations of your name, old addresses, or phone numbers. Each profile requires a separate opt-out request.

Important Limitations

Spokeo's own opt-out page warns that removal has significant limitations:

• Data may reappear: Spokeo continuously receives new records from public sources. Your information may show up again without notice.
• Original sources remain: Opting out of Spokeo doesn't remove data from the original public records or other data brokers.
• Court records require expungement: Criminal records will only be removed after you submit a valid court order of expungement to CustomerCare@spokeo.com.

Clearing Search Engine Results

Even after Spokeo removes your listing, it may still appear in Google or Bing search results due to cached data. To address this:

• Google: Use Google's Remove Outdated Content tool and select the option to refresh outdated results
• Bing: Submit removal requests through Bing Webmaster Tools

Search engines typically update their results within a few days to several weeks.

The Bigger Picture

Spokeo is just one of hundreds of data brokers and people-search sites. If your information appears on Spokeo, similar profiles almost certainly exist on sites like:

• Whitepages
• BeenVerified
• PeopleFinder
• Radaris
• Intelius
• TruthFinder
• MyLife

Each site has its own opt-out process. Comprehensive privacy protection requires removing your data from all of them—and monitoring for reappearance over time.

California Residents: New Options in 2026

If you're a California resident, the Delete Act has created a new tool called DROP (Delete Request and Opt-out Platform) that launched January 1, 2026. This system allows you to submit a single deletion request to all registered data brokers at once, rather than opting out individually. Visit privacy.ca.gov to learn more.