Guides · 07 September 2026 · 7 min read

How to Find Data Brokers That Hold Your Information

A step-by-step method to find which data brokers publish your personal information, using search engines, broker lists and the sites' own search tools.

To find the data brokers that hold your information, search your own name and details on the major people-search sites, run targeted searches on Google, and check the broker lists that opt-out services publish. This page walks through each method so you can build a list of every site that lists you, then remove yourself from each one.

Data brokers collect names, addresses, phone numbers, relatives, ages and past locations, then publish profiles that anyone can view or buy. There are hundreds of these sites. Most pull from the same handful of upstream sources, so if one lists you, several others probably do too.

Method 1: Search your name on the big people-search sites

Start with the sites that show the most complete profiles. Go to each one and enter your name, then narrow by city or state if the site asks. Common broker sites include Spokeo, BeenVerified, Whitepages, TruthFinder, PeopleFinders, Radaris, MyLife, Intelius and US Search.

When you find a profile that matches you, copy the URL or note the exact page. You will need it later to submit a removal request. Do not pay to unlock the full report. The free preview is enough to confirm the site holds your data.

1. Open the site in your browser.
2. Enter your full name.
3. Filter by your current city or state.
4. Look for a profile listing your correct age, relatives or past addresses.
5. Save the link to that specific profile.

Method 2: Search engines with targeted queries

Search engines index many broker profiles. Use them to catch sites you would not think to check.

Try these searches, replacing the placeholder with your real details:

• Your full name in quotation marks.
• Your name plus your city or town.
• Your name plus your street name.
• Your name plus a former address.
• Your phone number in quotation marks.

Work through several pages of results, not just the first. Broker profiles often sit lower down. Repeat the searches with any name variations you use, such as a maiden name, a middle initial, or a shortened first name.

Try more than one search engine. Different engines index different pages, so a broker that is invisible on one may appear on another.

Method 3: Use published broker lists

Several organisations and opt-out guides publish lists of known data brokers. These are useful because they name sites that may not rank in your own search results but could still hold a profile on you.

If your state maintains a data broker registry, check it. Some jurisdictions require brokers to register, and the public register names each company. Working through such a list tells you which brokers exist, so you can then visit each site and search for yourself directly.

Method 4: Check reverse phone and address lookups

Many brokers organise data by phone number and address as well as by name. Run your phone number and your home address through the lookup tools on the sites from Method 1. A broker might not surface your profile under your name but will return it under your number. Each of these is a separate listing you may need to remove.

Build your list, then remove yourself

Once you have searched by name, phone and address across the main sites and followed up on search results, you should have a list of brokers that list you. For each one, do the following.

1. Find the site's opt-out or privacy page. It is often linked in the footer under a heading such as "Do Not Sell My Information", "Privacy" or "Opt Out".
2. Follow the site's own removal process. Some ask you to paste the URL of your profile. Others ask for your name and email, or require you to confirm a link they send by email.
3. If the site offers no form, look for a privacy email address on the page and send a written removal request. Under the CCPA, California residents can demand deletion of their personal information.
4. Keep a record of each request, including the date and any confirmation.
5. Wait, then search again. Removal is not instant, and some sites process requests slowly.

If a site verifies your identity by email or text, complete that step promptly. Requests often expire if you do not confirm them.

What you cannot remove

Some information about you is public by law and cannot be deleted. This includes court filings, property and land records, corporate registrations and voter rolls. Brokers are allowed to republish these. You can ask a broker to remove the profile it built, but you cannot force the underlying public record to disappear.

Be honest about how long removal lasts

Removing yourself from a broker is not permanent. Brokers rebuild their records from upstream data feeds, marketing lists and public sources. Even after a successful removal, your profile typically reappears within a few months as the broker refreshes its data. This is normal and does not mean your original request failed.

The practical answer is to repeat the process on a schedule. Many people re-check the main sites every few months and re-submit removals for any profile that has returned. Keeping your saved list makes each round faster than the first.

A faster alternative

Doing this by hand is thorough but slow, because there are so many brokers and each has its own process. Vanish is a Mac app that scans data broker sites to find where your personal information is published and sends CCPA deletion demands on your behalf. It automates the search-and-submit loop described above, including the repeat checks. Doing it manually costs nothing but your time, so choose whichever suits you.

Summary

Search your name, phone number and address across the main people-search sites. Use quoted search queries to catch brokers you missed. Cross-check against published broker lists and any state registry. Save each profile you find, then follow each site's opt-out process or send a written deletion demand. Accept that public records stay public, and that listings return within months, so plan to repeat the process.