I was doing a routine privacy audit last month and decided to search my own name to see what a random stranger might find. The results on SearchPeopleFREE.com made my stomach drop.

Remove your personal info from public databases

Because it’s a "free" people-search site, there are no paywalls stopping anyone from accessing my current address, past locations, phone numbers, email addresses, and even a list of my relatives and associates. Seeing my life neatly packaged and given away for free felt like a massive invasion of privacy. It’s a goldmine for scammers, spammers, and anyone with bad intentions. While I eventually started using Incogni to automate the removal process across hundreds of other data brokers—because it’s incredibly simple, convenient, and saves you from the endless cycle of manual forms—I knew I had to tackle SearchPeopleFREE manually first to stop the immediate exposure.

Here is the exact, proven process I used to get my information taken down.

How I Removed My Data from SearchPeopleFREE (Took About 10 Minutes)

Step 1: Go to the privacy portal Navigate to searchpeoplefree.com. Scroll all the way down to the footer and click on the link that says “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information.”

Step 2: Access the opt-out form On the new page, scroll down to the “How to Opt Out” section and click on the “Opt Out Form” link.

Step 3: Submit your name and email Enter your full name and an email address. Check the box stating you’re the owner of the provided email, solve the CAPTCHA, and click “Begin removal process.” ⚠️ CRITICAL TIP: Do not use your primary email address. Data brokers are notorious for harvesting emails from opt-out forms to build new marketing lists. Use a disposable email service (like temp-mail.org) or a dedicated privacy alias. Just make sure you keep the tab open long enough to catch the verification email before the temporary inbox expires.

Step 4: Validate your email Check the inbox of the email you provided. Open the message from SearchPeopleFREE and click on the confirmation button/link inside.

Step 5: Submit the detailed opt-out form A new form will appear. Pro Privacy Tip: Do not just blindly fill this out. First, go back and search for your actual record on SearchPeopleFREE. Note the exact details they already have about you (specific address format, phone number, etc.). Only provide those exact details on this form. This ensures they remove the correct record and prevents you from accidentally "oversharing" and giving them new data to add to your profile. Check the box confirming you’re the subject of the record, solve the CAPTCHA, and click “Submit.”

Step 6: Wait for processing You should see an on-screen confirmation above the form. SearchPeopleFREE typically processes these requests within 9 days. I re-searched my name after a week and a half, and my profile was gone.

What Actually Gets Removed

Once processed, the following information is suppressed from their public search results:

• Full name and known aliases
• Current and previous addresses
• Phone numbers and email addresses
• Marital status and family members/associates
• Business records and property details

Alternative Contact Methods

If the online form glitches or you run into issues, you can reach out to SearchPeopleFREE directly:

• Phone: (667) 217-6417
• Mail: 3030 Greenmount Ave Ste 300, PMB 29296, Baltimore, MD 21218
• Web: The general contact form on their website

Why Manual Opt-Out Is Only Half the Battle

Getting my profile removed from SearchPeopleFREE felt like a huge win, but the victory was short-lived. A few days later, I searched my name again and found the exact same public records aggregated on sites like SmartBackgroundChecks, TruthFinder, ThatsThem, Whitepages, and InstantCheckmate.

These people-search brokers all scrape the same public directories, voter rolls, and social media footprints. Manually submitting opt-out forms to every single aggregator is a massive administrative burden. This is exactly why I rely on automated privacy services to handle the heavy lifting. Having a system that continuously monitors these sites and automatically submits removal requests when your data inevitably reappears is the only way to maintain your privacy without making it a part-time job.

Questions for the Community

1. Did anyone else notice that providing less info on the final form (matching only what's already there) seems to work better? I’m curious if others have tried this "don't overshare" strategy.
2. How long did it actually take for your profile to vanish? The site says around 9 days, but I'm wondering about real-world timelines.
3. Has anyone tried calling their support line (667-217-6417)? I'm curious if it's faster or more reliable than the web form if you get stuck.
4. What other "free" people search sites should we be targeting next? I want to make sure I'm not missing any high-risk platforms that make it too easy to find physical addresses.