I thought data brokers were just a scare story until I saw my own info for sale

A friend showed me a site called BeenVerified last month where you can look up anyone's address and phone. I typed in my name as a joke and there it was, my old apartment in Tampa and a phone number I haven't used in 5 years. It listed my age and some family members too, all pulled from public records I guess. That's when I realized this stuff is real and out there, not just something people talk about. Has anyone else found their own data online and managed to get it taken down?

4 comments

4 Comments

smith.parker4mo ago

Wait, is my embarrassing MySpace page on there too?

reese_rodriguez864mo ago

Check if your old profile is still up first... mine was buried but not gone. Try logging in with any old emails you had, the password reset might still work. If you get in, delete the photos and info before you nuke the whole thing. Sometimes the delete account option is hidden in the settings under privacy or security. Took me forever to find it.

nathan1004mo ago

Did you find any old posts you forgot about?

james_bell1mo ago

Getting your own info posted up there is a weird feeling for sure. I found my mom's old address listed on one of those people search sites and it took me a few hours to navigate all the opt out forms. Some of those sites make you jump through hoops but it's worth the hassle to get it removed.