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Table Of Content
Why Your BeenVerified Profile Is a Problem
BeenVerified is a people search platform that aggregates personal data from public records and third-party sources. It builds detailed profiles on individuals without their permission, often including:
- Home addresses
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Social media handles
- Property ownership
- Criminal records (if applicable)
These listings are publicly accessible, searchable by name, and can have a long-term impact on your personal privacy, safety, and reputation.
Risks of Staying Listed
Remaining listed on BeenVerified exposes you to:
- Identity theft and fraud
- Harassment or stalking
- Employment screening consequences
- Damage to your online reputation
- Doxxing or public shaming
People don’t realize that even minimal information—like a ZIP code or family connection—can be leveraged to find exact addresses or more invasive records.
How BeenVerified Data Affects Your Everyday Life
Profiles on BeenVerified can be used for:
- Background checks by potential landlords
- Casual vetting by employers and recruiters
- Suspicious ex-partners or stalkers trying to find your location
- Scammers impersonating loved ones or service providers
While you may not notice the effects immediately, exposure over time can create real vulnerabilities, especially if your personal or professional circumstances change.
How to Remove Yourself from BeenVerified
Opting out of BeenVerified is free but not always intuitive. Below is a complete, updated walkthrough on how to submit your removal request.
Step 1: Search for Your Listing
- Go to BeenVerified’s opt-out page.
- Enter your full name and state.
- Review all possible profiles that match your identity.
- Click the correct listing and select “Proceed to Opt Out.”
⚠️ Take screenshots of the listing before removal in case it resurfaces or you need to escalate.
Step 2: Submit Your Removal Request
Once you select your profile:
- Enter your email address for confirmation.
- Complete the CAPTCHA.
- Click the link in the verification email to finalize the opt-out.
Pro Tip: Use a separate email alias or burner email for tracking these requests, especially if you’re submitting multiple.
Step 3: Wait for Confirmation
Most removals take between 24-72 hours to process. If your listing still appears after three days:
- Resubmit using the same email address.
- Use the BeenVerified support contact form to file a support request.
Step 4: Document Everything
Save:
- Screenshots before and after the removal
- Email confirmations
- Dates and timestamps of every submission
This will help with any legal escalation or follow-up.
Why BeenVerified Opt-Out Isn’t Permanent
While opting out removes your current listing, BeenVerified regularly refreshes its database. If your information reappears in a new record, a new opt-out is required.
Reasons your data might resurface:
- New public records (court filings, home purchases)
- Updated data from third-party brokers
- Name or address changes
- Credit applications or registrations with your real name
To stay off, you must actively monitor for new listings.
Automate Your Monitoring
- Set up Google Alerts for your name + city/state.
- Use tools like Have I Been Pwned to track data breaches.
- Consider privacy services like Defamation Defenders to automate monitoring and removals.
How Your Info Ends Up on BeenVerified
BeenVerified compiles public data and purchases information from commercial data brokers. Sources include:
- Property tax records
- Voter registration databases
- Arrest records and court databases
- Phone directories and social media
- Marketing databases bought from online surveys or retail signups
Once collected, this information is bundled into searchable profiles that anyone can access with a basic subscription.
Real-World Impact of Exposure
- A tech recruiter rejected a job candidate after seeing an outdated eviction record.
- A stalking victim found her new address publicly listed just weeks after moving.
- Small business owners lose customers due to misleading criminal records appearing in search results.
Your online exposure can shape decisions by employers, lenders, landlords—even acquaintances.
Exposure Through Data Brokers
Many third-party data brokers sell information to BeenVerified and other people search websites. Some of the most common contributors include:
- LexisNexis
- CoreLogic
- Acxiom
- Epsilon
- Oracle Data Cloud
Each of these companies aggregates millions of records that are scraped and repackaged by platforms like BeenVerified.
Additional Ways to Protect Your Privacy
Getting off BeenVerified is just the beginning. Your data is likely listed across 40+ people search platforms.
Step-by-Step: Widen Your Privacy Defense
- Repeat the opt-out process on other sites like Whitepages, Radaris, and PeopleFinders.
- Submit a removal request with data brokers like Intelius, Acxiom, and CoreLogic.
- Register with the DMAchoice tool to reduce direct mail from data vendors: https://dmachoice.thedma.org/
- Remove personal info from Google using their content removal tool.
- File opt-outs with ad-targeting networks that track your browsing history and sell it.
Tools and Techniques That Help
- Privacy-focused browsers (Brave, Firefox)
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
- Encrypted email (ProtonMail, Tutanota)
- Credit monitoring tools (Experian, LifeLock)
- Disposable email generators for web signups
“The best defense against online data exploitation is a proactive offense.”
How Defamation Defenders Can Help
Defamation Defenders offers comprehensive reputation protection services that include:
- BeenVerified removal and takedown requests for dozens of people search engines
- Custom privacy audits to identify vulnerabilities and recommend actions
- Monitoring tools that alert you when your data resurfaces online
- Legal assistance for harassment, defamation, and unauthorized data usage
- Search result suppression and content removal across major platforms
Our Process
- We scan and locate all your exposed profiles.
- We file requests for immediate takedown.
- We escalate issues with legal support when needed.
- We monitor new threats and suppress fresh listings.
Don’t just play defense—schedule your free consultation and let our experts manage the process for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, if it originates from public records. However, laws like the CCPA give you the right to request its removal.
No, it’s free. Beware of services that try to charge you for this basic process.
Most requests are processed within 48-72 hours.
You’ll need to submit a new opt-out request. This is common if your records change.
We offer monitoring and re-removal services to keep your data suppressed as new listings arise.
You must be the person listed or have legal authorization (e.g., power of attorney).
You can escalate to your state attorney general or the Federal Trade Commission.
Subscribe to a privacy management service that monitors, removes, and re-suppresses listings automatically.
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