By Tim O. · October 22, 2026 · 12 min read

How to Remove Your Phone Number From Data Brokers (Free, Step by Step)

Last verified: October 22, 2026

The short answer

If spam callers know your name and city, they probably got them from a people-search site. These sites collect phone numbers, addresses, ages, and relatives from public records and other data sources, then publish them for anyone to look up. Scammers, robocallers, and marketers use them every day.

You can remove yourself from most of them for free. It takes some patience, and listings can come back, but each removal makes your number a little harder to find. This guide shows you where to start, the official opt-out pages for the biggest sites, and how to keep your information from creeping back.

Set aside about an hour for the first round. Have a spare email address ready, because most sites send a verification link.

Step 1: Search for yourself the way a scammer would

Before you can remove a listing, you need to find it.

Open a private or incognito browser window.
Search your full name plus your city and state on the sites listed in Step 3.
Also try your phone number and any past addresses or maiden names.
For each listing that's you, copy the full page address (URL). Many opt-out forms ask for it.

Keep a simple list: site name, listing URL, date you requested removal, and any confirmation number. You'll use it when you re-check later.

Step 2: Use Google's free "Results about you" tool

Google won't delete your information from other websites, but it can remove search results that show your phone number, home address, or email address. That makes your listings much harder to stumble onto.

In the Google app, tap your profile picture and choose Results about you. On a computer, go to the Results about you page in your Google account.
Select Get started, enter your name and the contact details you want to watch for, and turn on notifications.
Open the To review tab. For each result that shows your personal details, choose Request to remove.
Track progress under Removal requests.

Google will alert you when new results with your details appear. Two limits to know: the information still exists on the source website, and Google generally won't remove results from government, educational, or news sites (Google).

Step 3: Opt out of the biggest people-search sites

Start with these. They're among the most widely used, and several share data with smaller sites. Each site's process changes from time to time, so follow the instructions on the live page and save any confirmation you receive.

Site	Official opt-out page	What to expect
Whitepages	whitepages.com/suppression-requests	Paste your listing URL and complete the verification the page asks for, which may include a phone step
Spokeo	spokeo.com/optout	Paste your listing URL and confirm by email
BeenVerified	beenverified.com/f/optout/search	Find your record and confirm by email
TruePeopleSearch	truepeoplesearch.com/removal	Confirm by email within 24 hours; removal usually within a few days
FastPeopleSearch	fastpeoplesearch.com/removal	Find your record and use the removal option
PeopleConnect (Intelius, TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate, US Search)	suppression.peopleconnect.us	One request through email verification covers name searches on all four sites
PeopleFinders	peoplefinders.com/manage	Complete the verification on the page
MyLife	mylife.com/privacyrequest	Submit a privacy request and save the acknowledgement

A few tips that save time:

Use a spare email address. You'll get verification emails, and some sites send marketing afterward.
Finish each one in one sitting. Some verification links expire. TruePeopleSearch, for example, gives you 24 hours (Redact).
Remove every listing. If you appear more than once, under an old address or a nickname, each listing usually needs its own request.
Don't pay to remove your information. Real opt-outs on these sites are free. Be wary of any site that asks for payment or more personal details than it needs to find your listing.

Step 4: Use your state's privacy rights

Some states give you stronger tools.

California residents can use DROP (the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform) from the California Privacy Protection Agency. One request goes to every data broker registered in California, and brokers have 90 days to delete your records. Start at privacy.ca.gov/drop, verify your residency, and save the DROP ID you're given (Malwarebytes; CPPA).

Other states: several states have privacy laws that let you ask companies to delete your data, but most don't offer a single request like DROP. You'll need to contact brokers one by one, starting with the sites above.

Step 5: Check back every few months

People-search sites rebuild their records from public sources, so listings often reappear. Put a reminder on your calendar every three months:

Repeat the searches from Step 1.
Check Google's Results about you for new matches.
Re-submit any opt-outs for listings that came back, using your list from Step 1.

Doing this for a parent

Older adults are frequent targets of phone scams, and their listings often include relatives' names, which scammers use to sound convincing. If you're helping a parent:

Sit down together, or get their permission first. Opt-out forms ask you to confirm you are the person in the listing or are authorized to act for them.
Use an email address they can check, or one you manage together.
Remove their listings on the sites in Step 3, then turn on Google's Results about you for their details.
Add the quarterly re-check to your own calendar, so it actually happens.

Pair this with the fixes in How to Block Spam Calls on a Landline and a family code word, so a scammer who still gets through can't impersonate you.

When a paid removal service makes sense

Doing it yourself works, but it takes time. There are hundreds of data brokers, each with its own process, and listings come back. Paid data removal services send opt-out requests for you across many sites and keep re-checking.

A service is worth considering if you don't have the time to repeat this every few months, if you're managing several family members, or if you're dealing with heavy spam or harassment. We cover how data removal services fit into stopping spam calls in Why Am I Getting So Many Spam Calls?

Frequently asked questions

Is it really free to remove my information from people-search sites?

Yes. The opt-out processes on legitimate people-search sites are free. You only pay if you choose a service to do it for you.

How long does removal take?

It varies by site. Some remove listings within a few days, while requests under privacy laws can take longer. California's DROP gives brokers 90 days. Save your confirmations and check back.

Why did my listing come back?

These sites rebuild records from public sources and data they buy. A new record can appear even after an old one is removed. That's why a quarterly re-check matters.

Will this stop spam calls completely?

No. Your number may already be on lists from past data breaches or marketing databases. Removal reduces how easily new callers find you, so combine it with call screening and your carrier's spam blocker.

Does removing myself from Google remove my information from the internet?

No. Google's Results about you removes search results, not the original pages. You still need to opt out on each site to remove the information at its source.

The short version

Search for yourself, use Google's Results about you, then opt out of the biggest people-search sites one by one, saving each confirmation. If you live in California, submit one DROP request. Check back every three months, because listings return. If that's more upkeep than you have time for, a paid removal service can do it for you.

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Sources

Checked October 22, 2026.

Written by Tim O.

I write about password security and everyday account safety at SafePasswordGenerator.net, for people who want practical steps rather than fear for its own sake.