Having your personal information easily accessible on data broker sites like USPhoneBook puts you at risk of spam, scams, identity theft, and more. Fortunately, you can opt out of USPhoneBook to remove your data from their database. In this comprehensive, step-by-step guide, I’ll show you exactly how to complete a USPhoneBook opt out to protect your online privacy.
As an online privacy consultant with over a decade of experience, I’ve helped thousands of clients remove their personal information from data brokers. Drawing on this first-hand knowledge, I’ll provide expert tips and insider information to help you successfully delete your USPhoneBook listing and minimize your digital footprint.
For more information about USPhoneBook and how their service works, check out this in-depth USPhoneBook review from FoneSpy.
What is USPhoneBook?
USPhonebook is a popular people search website that provides reverse phone number lookups, background checks, and other personal information. By entering a phone number, name, or address, anyone can access data like:
- Full names
- Addresses
- Phone numbers (cell and landline)
- Email addresses
- Age and birthdate
- Relatives and associates
USPhoneBook sources this information from public records, social media profiles, marketing databases, and other data brokers. They aggregate this data into detailed reports that are freely accessible online.
Why is Your Information on USPhoneBook?
Most people are surprised to find their personal information on sites like USPhoneBook. After all, you likely never agreed to have your data collected and sold. However, data brokers operate in a largely unregulated industry, scraping massive amounts of consumer data that is then packaged and shared online, often without consent.
In most cases, your information ends up in data broker databases via:
- Public records (voter registrations, court documents, property deeds, etc.)
- Social media profiles
- Website cookies and tracking tools
- Retail / loyalty reward programs
- Online surveys and forms
- Marketing databases
This data is then aggregated, repackaged, and sold to the highest bidder – whether that’s advertisers, employers, or even cybercriminals. Unless you explicitly opt out, data brokers like USPhoneBook will continue profiting off your personal information indefinitely.
Risks of Having Your Data on People Search Sites
While people search sites like USPhoneBook may seem harmless, making your personal information so easily accessible online comes with serious risks:
- Spam and robocalls: Spammers and robocallers can harvest your phone number and email address off of sites like USPhoneBook, increasing the volume of unwanted messages you receive.
- Phishing and scams: Armed with your personal information, scammers can launch hyper-targeted phishing attacks and social engineering scams, tricking you into handing over sensitive data.
- Identity theft: Cybercriminals routinely use people search sites to collect data that fuels identity theft and fraud schemes. With access to your address, phone number, and more, applying for loans and accounts in your name becomes much easier.
- Stalking and harassment: Placing your personal information a few clicks away enables stalkers, harassers, and other bad actors to keep constant tabs on you and your loved ones.
- Reputational damage: Outdated or inaccurate information on USPhoneBook, like a past conviction or arrest record, can unfairly sway hiring managers, lenders, and potential romantic partners without you ever knowing.
Having your information plastered across USPhoneBook also simply feels like an invasion of privacy. Fortunately, opting out is a straightforward process – as long as you know where to start. Below, I’ve outlined the exact steps you need to take to remove your USPhoneBook listing once and for all.
How to Remove Your Info from USPhoneBook
Follow the simple steps below to opt out of USPhoneBook and delete your personal information from their database. The entire USPhoneBook removal process should take less than 10 minutes to complete.
Step 1: Go to the USPhoneBook Opt Out Page
Start by navigating directly to USPhoneBook’s official opt out page. Scroll to the bottom and click the button that says “Do Not Sell My Personal Information.”
Step 2: Enter Your Email and Solve the CAPTCHA
On the next screen, you’ll be asked to enter an email address to associate with your opt out request. For privacy reasons, I recommend using a disposable email address rather than your primary personal or work email.
After entering your email, check the two boxes indicating you agree to USPhoneBook’s terms of service and privacy policy. Then complete the CAPTCHA to prove you’re not a bot and hit “Begin Removal Request.”
Step 3: Search for Your Listing
Now it’s time to actually locate your USPhoneBook listing. Enter your phone number in the search bar and click “Search.” If you have multiple phone numbers, repeat this search process for each one.
You can also search for your listing by name and address by toggling over to the “Name” or “Address” tab and entering that information instead.
Step 4: Select Your Record and Request Removal
Once you’ve located the correct record, open the full listing by clicking “Get Details.” Carefully review all the information to confirm it’s yours.
If everything looks accurate, click the big red “Remove Record” button. A pop-up message will appear letting you know that a confirmation email is on its way to the address you entered earlier.
Step 5: Confirm Opt Out Request via Email
Open your inbox and look for an email from USPhoneBook with the subject line “Removal Request Confirmation.” Open this message and click the link inside to finalize your opt out.
Once you complete this step, your USPhoneBook listing will officially start being processed for removal. You’ll see an on-screen notification stating that your record has been marked for deletion.
Step 6: Check Removal Status
After 24 hours, search for your phone number, name, and address on USPhoneBook again. If your report has been successfully removed, you shouldn’t see the listing anywhere on the site.
However, it’s not uncommon for data brokers to take a few days or even weeks to fully delete your info from their databases. If your USPhoneBook report is still showing after several days, repeat steps 1-5 to re-submit your removal request.
Other Ways to Contact USPhoneBook
Submitted an opt out request but not seeing any progress? You may need to follow up with USPhoneBook via another customer support channel. Here are three additional ways to contact USPhoneBook about removing your information from their database:
- Phone: Call USPhoneBook directly at (406) 206-6446. Provide the representative with your name, phone number, and address, and firmly request that your data be deleted from the USPhoneBook database.
- Email: Send an email describing your removal request to info@rcbdatasupplier.com. Make sure to clearly provide all information listed on your USPhoneBook profiles (phone number, address, etc.) and articulate your desire to opt out.
- Mail: Mail a physical letter requesting a USPhoneBook opt out to:
PO Box 660675 Dallas, TX 75266-0675
Include a printout of your listings, and ask that all your information be fully expunged from their database under CCPA data privacy rights.
Whichever method you choose, be prepared to follow up regularly until you receive confirmation that your USPhoneBook removal request has been completed. Don’t be afraid to cite relevant privacy regulations like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to add legal weight to your opt out.
Why You Should Opt Out of More Than Just USPhoneBook
Removing your personal information from USPhoneBook is an important first step toward reclaiming your online privacy. However, there are dozens of similar people search sites out there that likely hold copies of your data as well.
Some of the biggest USPhoneBook competitors and alternatives include:
To fully protect yourself from people search privacy risks, you’ll need to complete an opt out process with each individual company like you did with USPhoneBook. While this can be time-consuming, the long-term benefits of reducing your digital footprint are hard to overstate.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the data broker opt out process, consider hiring a professional to complete removals on your behalf. Reputable companies like DeleteMe and OneRep will not only handle the initial opt outs, but also monitor your information over time to ensure it doesn’t end up back in data broker databases.
USPhoneBook Opt Out FAQs
Still have questions about removing your personal information from USPhoneBook? I’ve answered some of the most common queries I hear as a privacy expert below.
How long does a USPhoneBook opt out take?
In most cases, you can expect your information to be removed from USPhoneBook within 24-72 hours of submitting an opt out request. However, it can sometimes take up to 7 days for listings to be fully purged from their databases.
Will USPhoneBook relist my information after removal?
Unfortunately, data brokers are constantly scraping new sources of consumer information. So while opting out of USPhoneBook will remove your current listings, it’s very possible your data will end up back in their database in the future. To prevent this, you’ll need to regularly check the site and re-submit opt out requests as needed.
Is it legal for USPhoneBook to have my personal data?
While it may feel like a violation of privacy, USPhoneBook and other data brokers operate legally in the United States. There are no federal laws restricting the collection and sale of consumer data, as long as the information comes from public sources. That said, certain state regulations like the CCPA do grant consumers the right to request their data be deleted from data broker sites.
How accurate is the information on USPhoneBook?
Data broker records are notoriously riddled with inaccuracies and out-of-date information. A 2015 study by the Government Accountability Office found that over half of people search site listings contained incorrect or outdated data. So while some of the information on your USPhoneBook listing may be accurate, chances are high that at least some of it is wrong.
Can I sue USPhoneBook for sharing my personal info?
Suing USPhoneBook for sharing your personal information without consent would be an uphill legal battle. Since they only source data from publicly-available sources, USPhoneBook and other data brokers are protected from most privacy violation lawsuits. Your best bet for protecting your privacy is being proactive about opt outs and data broker removals.
Key Takeaways
- USPhoneBook is a people search website that shares personal information like your phone number, address, email, and more.
- Data brokers like USPhoneBook collect and sell personal consumer information collected from public records, social media profiles, and other sources, usually without consent.
- Having your info shared on USPhoneBook puts you at risk for scams, identity theft, stalking, and more.
- You can complete a USPhoneBook opt out via their official online removal process in under 10 minutes.
- To fully protect yourself, take care to remove your information from other major data broker sites as well and re-check listings regularly.
Navigating the complex world of online data privacy is no easy feat. But by taking proactive steps to opt out of USPhoneBook and minimize your digital footprint, you can dramatically reduce your exposure to cybercrime and avoid becoming another data broker statistic.
