Spokeo calls itself a "people search engine." What it actually does is compile your home address, phone numbers, email addresses, relatives, estimated income, and more from hundreds of public record sources — then sell access to anyone willing to pay a few dollars a month.
The good news: Spokeo is legally required to let you opt out. The process takes about five minutes. The catch: your data can and often does reappear after a few months, meaning this isn't a one-time fix.
Step 1: Find Your Spokeo Listing
Go to spokeo.com and search your full name. Add your city or state to narrow results. You may find multiple listings — Spokeo creates separate entries for each address you've lived at.
Click into your listing and copy the full URL from your browser's address bar. You'll need this URL to submit your opt-out request. It looks something like:
https://www.spokeo.com/FirstName-LastName/State/City/hash12345
If you have multiple listings, repeat this entire process for each one.
Step 2: Submit the Opt-Out Request
- Navigate to spokeo.com/optout
- Paste the URL of your listing into the search field
- Enter your email address — Spokeo sends a confirmation link here
- Complete the CAPTCHA and click "Remove This Listing"
Check your email immediately. Spokeo sends a confirmation link that expires quickly. Click it to complete the removal. Without clicking the link, your data stays up.
Step 3: Verify the Removal
Wait 24-48 hours, then search Spokeo again. Your listing should return a "no results found" message. If the listing is still visible, repeat the opt-out process — occasionally submissions don't go through on the first attempt.
Also check whether Google has cached your Spokeo page. Even if Spokeo removes the listing, Google's cache may show it for a few weeks. You can request removal via Google's Remove Outdated Content tool once Spokeo's page is actually gone.
Why Your Data Comes Back
Spokeo continuously re-ingests data from its source databases — county property records, voter rolls, marketing lists, and others. When those sources update, your information can re-enter Spokeo's system even after a successful removal.
Set a calendar reminder to check Spokeo every 3 months. Some people use Google Alerts for their name to catch when new listings appear anywhere, including Spokeo.
What Spokeo Keeps Even After Opt-Out
Opt-out removes your public-facing listing. It does not delete you from Spokeo's internal database. Spokeo retains the data for their own analytical purposes and may share it with certain business partners even after you opt out. Their privacy policy is clear on this — and it's not ideal — but removing the public listing does stop most of the practical harm: people searching your name can no longer find your address on Spokeo.
The Bigger Picture
Spokeo is one of over 200 data broker sites that publish personal information. Removing yourself from Spokeo alone is a good first step, but it won't stop every people-search site from listing you. Sites like Whitepages, BeenVerified, Radaris, Intelius, and PeopleFinder all operate similarly and require separate opt-outs.
If doing this across 200+ sites sounds exhausting, that's because it is. Data removal services like Incogni and DeleteMe exist specifically to automate this process — we've reviewed them if you want to understand whether the subscription cost makes sense for your situation.
Spokeo Opt-Out: Quick Reference
- Opt-out URL: spokeo.com/optout
- Time required: 5 minutes per listing
- Confirmation required: Yes — check email and click link
- Data reappears: Often within 3-6 months
- Works for: Name, address, phone, relatives — all public-facing data
- Does not remove: Your data from Spokeo's internal systems