How do PeopleSearch Sites Work?

People search websites, which are sometimes called people finders, collect and sell personal data. If you want to get more information about a first date, a potential roommate, or a new neighbor, you might find them very helpful. You can also use them to look up a long-lost relative or an old friend.

The media, police officers, and private investigators might turn to people search sites during an investigation. They contain sensitive data, and there is the risk of cybercriminals accessing them.

This free people search guide will tell you everything you need to know about these sites, including how to check if your data can be accessed on one.

What do people search sites do?

People search websites specialize in storing, gathering, compiling, and selling personal information. They can get data from federal, county, and state public records, along with information that’s available on social networks or posted online in public forums. They sometimes also buy data from private companies.

If the site is free, it’s probably ad-supported. Paid people search sites require users to buy a one-off report or sign up for a subscription. There are various pricing options, with more detailed background check reports available for higher fees.

What information do they have?

It’s surprising how much data these sites collect and what you can access in a report generated by one. The specifics will vary by site and by person. The information the sites have on people, either for a specific sum or for free, can include the following:

  • First and last name, previous names
  • Current and previous addresses
  • Age and gender
  • Phone numbers and email addresses
  • Relatives, including distant ones
  • Marital status, marital records
  • Divorce records
  • Social network profiles
  • Posts on forums
  • Blog posts written by the search target
  • Political affiliations
  • Occupation and estimated income
  • Any degrees or certificates held
  • Criminal and civil records
  • Property ownership records

Benefits of a people search

Many people finders are free to use. You can look up anyone as long as you have a few basic details about them. You can look up strangers or do a self-check. A free people search will generate a huge volume of information, including the person’s full name, phone number, email, friends, online usernames and handles, etc.

Using the best people search tools will broaden your scope and improve your chances of getting valuable information. If you only use one site, you’ll probably find only a bit of what you’re looking for. If someone has left a trace on the internet via public records or social networks, one of these tools will make them easier to find.

All the information available online is public because it has been sourced from a blog, public database, forum, message board, etc. You can get different info from different sites and compile it to build a whole.

That said, there’s no guarantee that will happen. If you want to find out as much as you can about someone online, you need to be patient and persistent, especially if they don’t have an online presence or you’ve lost touch.

People search sites that charge a fee for a detailed background check report will collect all the public information about your target in one single file for you to review. You can search on your own without paying if you have the time.

Removing your data from a people search site

People search sites are not required to delete people’s information by federal law. There has been some state legislation, but the laws might not apply to public records. Some of these people finders have opt-out forms or pages to fill in and request your information be removed. It involves indicating the URL with your data or tracking down your record identification numbers. This process will have to be repeated with every website that has your data. If your records appear under different names with one website because of a typo or for another reason, you might need to repeat the procedure for each profile.

In some cases, your information will be removed only from the site, not the data source. You might have to resubmit requests moving forward and watch for your information on another people finder.

Search for your data on the site if you want to find out if it’s available. Another option is doing a general Google search for your name or information. The site might share some basic data or indicate what you can access if you pay for a report.

It’s difficult and arduous to keep your identity safe. Getting people search sites to delete your data is a good start, but you should also monitor the internet in general for your info and suspicious activity.