Remove Yourself from PeopleSmart — Steps, Timeline & What Comes Back (2026)

Most relevant if this is you:Privacy for families

What is PeopleSmart?

A people- and business-contact search site acquired by BeenVerified in 2014; its opt-out is handled entirely through BeenVerified.

PeopleSmart's particular danger is the surfacing of information most people do not realize is publicly available. A single search reveals your home address, the names of your family members, and your approximate age. All without any verification of who is searching, or why.

What data PeopleSmart has on you

A PeopleSmart profile can include a surprisingly detailed picture of your life. Here is what they typically display:

• full name
• current and past addresses, often going back 10 to 20 years
• phone numbers, landline and mobile, sourced from commercial providers and public records
• email addresses, often going back 10 to 20 years
• relatives, family members and known associates, often with links to their profiles
• property records, ownership, estimated value, and neighborhood data
• professional/work history

Not every profile contains all categories. Depth depends on what public records exist in your jurisdiction and how much commercial data has been linked to your identity. For most adults with any public record history, PeopleSmart has enough to paint a detailed picture.

How to opt out of PeopleSmart: step by step

1. Go to peoplesmart.com and click 'Do Not Sell / Share My Personal Information' (redirects to BeenVerified)
2. Enter your first and last name and select your state, then Search
3. Find your listing and click Proceed to Opt Out
4. Enter your email (use a masked address), complete the CAPTCHA, and click Send Verification Email
5. Open the email and click Verify Opt-Out

How long does PeopleSmart removal take?

After you complete the opt-out, PeopleSmart typically processes removals within within 24 hours (some sources up to 72 hours). By broker standards, that is relatively fast — many sites take 7 to 45 days.

The catch: your data comes back

The most important thing to understand about PeopleSmart removal: it is temporary.

BeenVerified/PeopleSmart continuously update from public records; data can be re-added. Recheck periodically.

This is not unique to PeopleSmart. Every people-search site works this way. Your opt-out removes one listing. It does not stop the data pipeline. The only way to stay off permanently is to repeat the process every few months yourself, or use a service that detects re-listings and re-submits automatically.

What PeopleSmart's opt-out does not cover

• Other brokers are not affected. Removing yourself from PeopleSmart does nothing to beenverified.com, peoplelooker.com, neighborwho.com, or the dozens of other sites where your data is exposed. Each requires its own opt-out.
• Cached copies may persist. Google and other search engines may cache your PeopleSmart profile for days or weeks after it is removed. Use Google's content removal tool to request de-indexing.
• Multiple profiles may exist. If you have lived in multiple states, changed your name, or have multiple phone numbers, PeopleSmart may have built separate profiles for each variation. Search and opt out of each.

Tips for a successful opt-out

Use a dedicated email. Use an alias or a separate account for removal requests. Keeps your primary inbox out of PeopleSmart's system and keeps confirmation emails organized.

Search every angle. Do not just search by name. Try phone number and email too. You may have more than one listing.

Document the request. Screenshot the confirmation page and save the confirmation email. Useful if you ever need to prove you requested removal.

Or skip the manual work entirely

PeopleSmart is one of dozens of people-search sites with your information. Even if you complete this opt-out today, your data reappears over time — and every other broker requires its own separate process, its own verification, its own re-check schedule.

Delist scans for your personal information across the internet, handles removals automatically, and monitors for re-listings so you do not have to.

Frequently asked questions