Fight back against people search industry
...and the online tracking companies that feed them!
We've filed a formal complaint with the FTC that challenges people search companies' deceptive & unfair practices.
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What is the people search industry?
People search websites make a business out of collecting, publicly posting, and selling your personal information online . . . to anyone.
They're also referred to as "info brokers" and "data brokers."
They usually have your:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Email
- Family members
- Date of birth
- Previous addresses
They also sell more detailed info, like real estate purchases, court and criminal records, and employment history, as part of their reports.
You've probably heard of some of the biggest people search sites, like MyLife.com, Spokeo.com, Intelius.com, and PeopleFinders.com, but there are
over 180 similar sites.
They collect your information without your knowledge or consent and sell it to whoever's buying. You don't have a say in it, and you don't see any benefit from it.
Most of the people you want to get in touch with you already have your contact information. These sites enable stalkers, angry exes, annoying marketers, and anyone who's looking for you to find you.
How do they get my info?
They get your information from so-called "public records," but that term is a bit misleading. Not all of their sources are open to the public or come from the government, and many of these sources are things that we simply can’t avoid being part of. Some of the biggest sources are:
- Marketing databases
- Credit bureaus
- Real estate transactions (including appraisals)
- Trademark filings
- Marriage licenses and divorce decrees
- Any unsealed lawsuits or legal actions
- Birth certificates
- Death certificates
- Census statistics
- Voter registrations
- Drivers licenses
- Utility companies
- Government spending reports
- Political campaign contributions
- Sex offender registrations
- Legislation minutes
- Business and entity filings
- Professional and business licenses
- Criminal records
There are also public record sources consisting of information that we voluntarily provide, even though we didn't know that it'd be used for something beyond the purpose for which we provided it:
- Sweepstakes
- Surveys
- Rebate and warranty cards
- Online account registrations and profiles
- Forum posts
- Social networking info (but note that this sometimes depends on the site's Terms of Use regarding sharing info with third parties, as well as your own privacy selections on that site: e.g., your Facebook likes and interests, your friends, your tweets, the work information you provide to LinkedIn)
Bottom line: give out as little contact information as you can. Sometimes you can’t avoid it, but be smart about it when you have a choice.
Where should I complain?
Report them to the FTC
*We reported BeenVerified.com; read our complaint.*
The
Federal Trade Commission, or FTC for short, exists to help consumers who notice, or are victims of, shady business practices.
If you’ve been ripped off, had your identity stolen from a site, seen a people search site repost your information after claiming to have removed it (or completely ignore your opt-out request), you can make a quick complaint online by visiting
here. The FTC takes action on patterns of bad behavior, so your complaints really do matter.
File a dispute with TRUSTe
If a website is a certified TRUSTe member (you can tell if you see the TRUSTe Web Privacy Seal), anyone can report that site to TRUSTe’s Watchdog Dispute Resolution department. The seal looks like this:
Tell your state’s Attorney General
Each state has an Attorney General who vouches for his or her residents’ rights. Simply Google your state’s Attorney General, visit the official website, and look for the place to file a consumer complaint. For example, here’s the spot to do that if you’re a Massachusetts resident.
You can also complain to the Attorney General of the state in which the website you’re complaining about is incorporated.
Complain to the Better Business Bureau
Visit the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to find your local BBB and file an online complaint.
Write a review at a consumer ratings site
Some of the biggest ones include SiteJabber, PissedConsumer, and RipoffReport. Be careful when you’re posting to avoid using personal information that can be traced back to you!
Write your local representatives
Tell them you’re worried about people search sites and want them to advocate for your right to privacy and security. Find and contact your representatives here.
I want to spread the word!
Almost everyone you know has their personal information—their address, phone number, email address, and more—publicly listed on people search sites. Tell them about this privacy and safety risk and that there’s something they can do about it!
Show the people you care about.
Send them to Spokeo and have them search for their names. The amount of information on them is shocking. Seeing is believing: it’s important that the people you care about see the risks themselves.
Share the info on this site with people you know...
- Send an email
- Use your status updates
- Tweet about it
- Call or text
...and with people you don't know.
- Submit this site to StumbleUpon, Reddit, and Digg
- Blog about it
- Comment about it under online news articles
- Link to it on your site
Complain publicly. Make your voice heard.
See the "Where should I complain" link to the left.
