How to Remove Yourself From PeopleSmart in 10 Minutes (Free 2026 Guide)

PeopleSmart is one of the brands operated by BeenVerified Inc., which also runs BeenVerified itself, PeopleLooker, NumberGuru, and several smaller properties. Each PeopleSmart sister brand maintains a separate user-facing database with its own opt-out flow — opting out of PeopleSmart does NOT remove you from BeenVerified, PeopleLooker, or NumberGuru.

The PeopleSmart opt-out is moderately friction-heavy because it requires account creation. This is a tactic some brokers use to discourage casual removals — the extra steps reduce the number of people who follow through with opt-outs, which keeps profile databases more complete. Use a throwaway email address for the required account, then delete the account immediately after the removal is confirmed.

PeopleSmart is particularly aggressive about social-media integration. They cross-reference public LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and increasingly dating-app profiles against real identities to add social-account links to their reports. This makes PeopleSmart especially concerning if you maintain pseudonymous online identities or want your social media kept separate from your real-name public profile.

The PeopleSmart opt-out covers your PeopleSmart-specific profile but the social-media re-linkage continues. PeepleSmart re-crawls public social profiles every 3-6 months, so the only way to permanently prevent social-account linkage is to make your social profiles private (or use pseudonymous accounts that share no recognizable signals with your real identity).

This guide walks through the PeopleSmart opt-out, the account-creation friction, the BeenVerified Inc. cluster you need to opt out of, social-media lockdown to prevent relisting, and what to do when PeopleSmart relists you despite a successful opt-out.

> Why is my information on PeopleSmart?

PeopleSmart built your profile from public records, social-media platforms, commercial data brokers, and BeenVerified Inc.'s shared data pool. Like its sister brands, PeopleSmart pulls aggressively from public LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to add social-media account links to your profile.

> What to do

1. 1

   Search for your PeopleSmart profile

   Go to peoplesmart.com and search your name. Identify your listing. Note variations or multiple listings.

   Search PeopleSmart →
2. 2

   Create a PeopleSmart account

   You must create an account to opt out. Use a throwaway email if possible (you will delete the account after). Strong unique password.

3. 3

   Go to the PeopleSmart opt-out page

   Navigate to https://www.peoplesmart.com/opt-out while logged in. Search for your record within the opt-out tool.

   PeopleSmart Opt-Out Page →
4. 4

   Select your profile and submit

   Select your profile from the search results. Confirm the removal request.

5. 5

   Click the verification email and opt out of BeenVerified

   Click the verification link PeopleSmart sends. Then submit a separate opt-out at beenverified.com/faq/opt-out/ — PeopleSmart and BeenVerified share parent ownership but maintain separate databases.

   BeenVerified Opt-Out →
6. 6

   Delete your PeopleSmart account

   After removal is confirmed, go to Account Settings and delete the account you created. Do not leave it active.

> What to do when PeopleSmart removal does not work

The most common failure modes:

(1) "I cannot create a PeopleSmart account — the form keeps rejecting me." Try a different email address. PeopleSmart sometimes blocks throwaway-email domains (mailinator, guerrillamail, etc.) — use a real-looking email service. If repeatedly rejected, contact [email protected].

(2) "I submitted the opt-out but never received the verification email." Check spam thoroughly — PeopleSmart and BeenVerified Inc. emails frequently land there. If genuinely missing after an hour, re-submit.

(3) "I removed myself from PeopleSmart but I still appear on BeenVerified." Sister sites with separate databases. Submit the BeenVerified opt-out separately at beenverified.com/faq/opt-out/. Same applies to PeopleLooker (peoplelooker.com/opt-out) and NumberGuru (numberguru.com/opt-out).

(4) "I removed myself months ago and PeopleSmart relisted me." That is PeopleSmart's 3-6 month relisting cycle plus social-media re-linkage. Repeat the opt-out quarterly. Lock down social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram) to private to prevent re-linkage.

(5) "PeopleSmart ignored my repeated requests." Email [email protected] — the parent company privacy contact has authority over all BeenVerified Inc. properties. Cite CCPA if California. File complaints with the California AG or FTC for repeated noncompliance.

(6) "I deleted my account but PeopleSmart still shows my data." Account deletion is separate from public profile removal. The opt-out must be confirmed before account deletion has any effect on profile visibility.

> State privacy laws that strengthen your PeopleSmart opt-out

Several U.S. states have enacted comprehensive consumer privacy laws giving you stronger legal rights to force PeopleSmart (and parent BeenVerified Inc.) to delete your data. California (CCPA — Civil Code § 1798.100 et seq.) requires deletion within 45 days. Virginia (CDPA), Colorado (CPA), Connecticut (CTDPA), Utah (UCPA), Texas (DPSA), Oregon, Montana, Iowa, and others have similar laws.

For BeenVerified Inc. properties (PeopleSmart, BeenVerified, PeopleLooker, NumberGuru), cite CCPA in escalation emails and address requests to [email protected] — the parent company privacy contact may trigger cascading deletions.

> FCRA and using PeopleSmart for employment, housing, or credit decisions

PeopleSmart is NOT a Fair Credit Reporting Agency (FCRA) compliant consumer reporting agency. Using their data for hiring, rental, credit, or insurance decisions is illegal. The FTC settled an $800,000 case with parent BeenVerified Inc. previously over exactly this. If an employer, landlord, or lender used PeopleSmart on you, that is an FCRA violation with private right of action.

> Social media linkage and PeopleSmart relisting prevention

PeopleSmart aggressively cross-references public social media profiles with your real identity. The opt-out removes existing social-media linkages from your PeopleSmart profile, but PeopleSmart continues to re-crawl public social profiles.

To prevent re-linkage after opt-out, lock down your social privacy: Facebook (Privacy → "Who can look me up?" → Friends), LinkedIn (Settings → Visibility → hide public profile or restrict displayed sections), Twitter (Protected Tweets), Instagram (Private account). Without lockdown, PeopleSmart will re-link your accounts within 3-6 months even after a successful opt-out.

> The BeenVerified Inc. cluster you need to opt out of

BeenVerified Inc. operates PeopleSmart, BeenVerified, PeopleLooker, NumberGuru, and several smaller brands. Each maintains a separate user-facing database. To fully remove yourself from the cluster, submit opt-outs at: peoplesmart.com/opt-out (requires account), beenverified.com/faq/opt-out/, peoplelooker.com/opt-out, and numberguru.com/opt-out.

> Address-confidentiality programs and upstream protections

Quarterly opt-outs are reactive. For long-term protection: Address Confidentiality Programs (ACPs) for qualifying populations, property ownership via land trust or LLC, voter registration with PO Box where allowed, driver's license with PO Box address-of-record, plus social media privacy lockdown.

> Why does PeopleSmart require an account to opt out?

It is a dark pattern designed to discourage opt-outs and harvest more data. Use a throwaway email and delete the account after removal.

> Is PeopleSmart connected to BeenVerified?

Yes. Both are operated by BeenVerified Inc. They share data sources but maintain separate user-facing databases — you need separate opt-outs.

> Does PeopleSmart show my social media profiles?

Often yes. PeopleSmart scrapes public LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram profiles to link social accounts to real identities. Opting out removes the linkage from PeopleSmart but does not affect the underlying social profiles.