How to Opt Out of PeopleConnect

PeopleConnect is the parent company behind a sprawling network of nearly 20 people-search and background-check websites, including Intelius, ZabaSearch, US Search, Classmates, TruthFinder, and Instant Checkmate. If your personal information appears on any of these sites, the good news is that PeopleConnect operates a centralized Suppression Center that can remove your data across multiple properties at once. This guide walks you through the entire opt-out process, explains what to expect, and highlights pitfalls to avoid.

What Is PeopleConnect?

PeopleConnect Holdings, Inc. is a data broker conglomerate that owns and operates some of the most widely used people-search services on the internet. While each brand presents itself as an independent service, they all share the same underlying data infrastructure and corporate parent. PeopleConnect's network includes:

• Intelius — one of the oldest and largest people-search engines, offering background checks, reverse phone lookups, and public records searches
• TruthFinder — a popular background check service used by millions of Americans
• Instant Checkmate — originally launched as a tool for online daters to screen potential matches
• ZabaSearch — a free people-search site specializing in addresses and phone numbers
• US Search — one of the earliest people-search sites on the internet
• Classmates.com — a school reunion and alumni directory that doubles as a data source
• Addresses.com, PeopleLookup, DateCheck, PublicRecords.com, and several other secondary brands

Together, these sites compile names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, employment history, criminal records, court filings, property records, social media profiles, and information about your relatives and associates. The sheer breadth of the PeopleConnect network means that opting out at the parent level is one of the most impactful single steps you can take to protect your online privacy.

What Information Does PeopleConnect Expose?

A typical profile across PeopleConnect's sites may include:

• Full legal name, maiden names, and known aliases
• Current and past home addresses spanning years or decades
• Phone numbers (landline and mobile) and email addresses
• Criminal records, arrests, and mugshots
• Court records, civil judgments, and traffic violations
• Marriage and divorce records
• Property and real estate ownership records
• Employment and education history
• Social media accounts and online profiles
• Names of relatives and known associates

This data is aggregated from government databases, court systems, public records, commercial data providers, and social media platforms. Anyone willing to pay a small fee — or in the case of ZabaSearch, anyone at all — can access this information.

Step-by-Step: How to Opt Out of PeopleConnect

The opt-out process uses the PeopleConnect Suppression Center and takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Follow these steps carefully:

1. Go to the PeopleConnect Suppression Center.

   Visit suppression.peopleconnect.us/login in your web browser. This is the centralized portal for managing data suppression across all PeopleConnect-owned sites.

2. Enter your email address.

   Type in a valid email address you have access to and click the green button to continue. You will use this email for verification, so make sure it is one you can check immediately.

3. Verify your email.

   Check your inbox for a verification email from PeopleConnect. Click the "Verify Email" link in the body of the message. If you do not see it within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder.

4. Enter your date of birth.

   You will be prompted to provide your date of birth. Enter it accurately — this information is used to match your identity to your records and cannot be changed later. Read the declaration, check the box to confirm, and click "Continue."

5. Enter your full legal name.

   On the next screen, type in your full legal name. Make sure the "This is my legal name" checkbox is selected, then click "Continue."

6. Add alternative names (optional but recommended).

   If you have used other names — a maiden name, a nickname, or a former married name — add them. This helps ensure all records associated with your identity are found and suppressed.

7. Select your matching record.

   The system will display records that match your information. Review each one carefully and select the record (or records) that belong to you.

8. Set the record to "Suppressed."

   In the "Desired Behavior" dropdown menu, select "Suppressed" and click "Save" to finalize your request.

Processing Time

PeopleConnect states that suppression typically takes effect within 72 hours, though they advise allowing up to 10 business days for the process to complete across all affiliated sites. After this window, search for your name on each of the PeopleConnect-owned sites (Intelius, TruthFinder, ZabaSearch, etc.) to verify that your profiles no longer appear. If your listing is still visible after 10 business days, contact PeopleConnect support.

Important Warnings and Limitations

• Data can reappear. PeopleConnect continuously scrapes new public records. If their systems acquire fresh data about you — from a new court filing, voter registration update, or property transaction — a new listing may be created that is not associated with your previous suppression. It is not uncommon for data to reappear within three to six months.
• Suppression is not deletion. The standard process suppresses your information from appearing in search results, but PeopleConnect may retain the underlying data in their systems. If your state has privacy laws such as the CCPA (California) or similar statutes, you may have the right to request full deletion by contacting them directly.
• Not all subsidiary sites may update at the same speed. While the Suppression Center covers the entire PeopleConnect network, some secondary sites may take longer to reflect the change than others.
• You may need to repeat the process. Because data brokers constantly re-collect information, a one-time opt-out is rarely permanent. Plan to re-check your listings every few months and re-submit suppression requests as needed.
• This only covers PeopleConnect properties. Even after a successful suppression, your personal data almost certainly exists on dozens of other unrelated data brokers — Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, Radaris, and many more — each of which requires a separate opt-out process.

How PrivacyOn Automates the Entire Process

Manually opting out of PeopleConnect and then repeating the process for every other data broker is exhausting and never truly finished. Services like PrivacyOn can automate this process across 100+ data brokers, including the entire PeopleConnect network. Here is what PrivacyOn handles for you:

• Scans 190+ data broker sites — including every PeopleConnect property — to find all listings containing your personal information
• Submits opt-out and suppression requests automatically — navigating complex multi-step workflows like the PeopleConnect Suppression Center, including email verifications, identity confirmation, and form submissions
• Monitors for re-listings continuously — when PeopleConnect or any other broker re-adds your data from newly acquired records, PrivacyOn detects it and submits a fresh removal request without any action on your part
• Provides a real-time dashboard — track the status of every removal request, see which brokers had your data, and monitor your overall privacy exposure over time

With nearly 20 sites under one corporate umbrella, PeopleConnect represents one of the largest concentrations of personal data in the data broker industry. Opting out is an important first step, but lasting privacy requires ongoing vigilance. PrivacyOn ensures your information stays suppressed across the entire PeopleConnect network and beyond — automatically and indefinitely.