How data brokers work

Yes. Right now. Your full name, phone number, home address, email, age, and sometimes even your relatives' names are listed on dozens of "people search" websites — for anyone with a credit card to buy.

These sites are called data brokers. They scrape public records, social media, purchase histories, and other databases, then package it all up and sell access. It's a multi-billion dollar industry.

Ever wonder why that app is free? Why that social network doesn't charge you? Because you're not the customer. You're the product. Your data is what's being sold.

Yep. Data brokers are the supply chain for robocalls, spam texts, and junk mail. Telemarketers, scammers, and "lead generation" companies buy your contact info in bulk from these sites.

You didn't give them your number. You didn't sign up for anything. Someone sold it.

Removing yourself from data broker sites cuts off the supply. Fewer places your number is listed = fewer people buying it = fewer calls at dinner.

Most of this data comes from public records — voter registration, property records, court filings, business licenses. Data brokers argue they're just aggregating publicly available information.

The difference is that your county courthouse doesn't package your home address with your phone number, email, age, and a satellite photo of your house, then sell it for $2.95 to anyone who asks.

Several states have passed privacy laws (California's CCPA, Virginia's CDPA, Colorado's CPA, and others) that give you the right to demand deletion. That's what Unlisted does — we exercise those rights on your behalf.

Three things:

1. Scan — We check 18+ data broker sites for your personal info. Takes about 2 minutes. You get screenshots proving what we found.

2. Remove — For brokers with opt-out forms, we submit them automatically. For brokers that require formal requests, we send legal deletion demands citing your state's privacy law.

3. Prove — We show you before-and-after screenshots and give you direct links so you can verify everything yourself. No trust required.

Because data brokers re-list you. It's how they make money.

You get removed from Spokeo today. In 30-60 days, they scrape a new database, and you're back. It's like mowing the lawn — the grass doesn't care that you cut it last month.

That's why we offer annual protection ($9.99/year). We re-scan every month, catch re-listings, and remove you again. Automatically. Forever.

Absolutely. We even show you how — every email includes direct links to the broker's opt-out page and step-by-step instructions.

But there are 18+ brokers, each with a different process. Some need you to fill a form. Some need you to verify by phone. Some require a formal written request. Some require you to upload a photo ID. One makes you call a phone number.

And you have to do it again every month or two when they re-list you.

Or you could pay less than a cup of coffee and we handle it.

Your initial scan takes about 3-5 minutes. You'll see exactly which brokers have your info, with screenshots, as soon as it's done.

For removal — brokers with automated opt-out forms are submitted immediately. You'll see "Removing..." status within minutes. Brokers that require legal deletion demands get an email the same day.

Most brokers process removals within 24-72 hours. Some drag their feet up to 45 days (the legal maximum). If they don't comply, we escalate with a stronger letter citing their violation.

We re-scan 30 days later and show you the before-and-after. That's the proof that it actually worked — not just a status label that says "removed."

Free scan — see who has your data. Always free.

$0.99 — we remove you from every broker that has you. One-time charge. Not a subscription. You will not be charged again.

$9.99/year — we re-scan every month and remove you automatically all year. That's less than a dollar a month. Three cups of coffee for a year of no robocalls.

Only what we need to search for you: your name, city, state, phone, and email. That's it.

No street addresses. No Social Security numbers. No payment info (Stripe handles that). No tracking pixels. No analytics scripts. No cookies except your login session.

We will never sell, share, or use your data for anything other than removing it from broker sites. That would make us the thing we're fighting.

You can delete everything with one click, anytime. We delete your data, your scan history, and your screenshots. Gone.

You shouldn't have to. That's the point.

Every scan comes with screenshots and direct links. You can verify every result yourself. We don't ask you to take our word for it — we show you the proof and let you check.

We're also the only service that gives you step-by-step instructions to do it yourself, in every single email. If you'd rather DIY, go for it. We'll even help.

Because we built the technology to automate what would otherwise take you hours of manual work every month — scanning dozens of sites, filling out different forms, sending legal requests, tracking responses.

Other services in this space charge $10-15 per month. We think everyone should be able to afford basic privacy, not just people who can drop $150 a year on it. $9.99/year puts it within reach for everyone.