TL;DR: Go to beenverified.com/app/optout/search, search your name and state, click Proceed to Opt Out, enter an email and click the verification link BeenVerified sends. DeleteMe’s guide says the listing should be gone within 24 to 72 hours. But BeenVerified’s parent company runs nine consumer brands, including PeopleLooker, PeopleSmart, NeighborWho and Ownerly, and each keeps its own opt-out. Californians can also use the free state DROP platform to reach 600+ registered brokers in one request. Re-check every few months, because records come back.
What BeenVerified is, and who’s behind it
BeenVerified sells background-style reports that can include addresses, phone numbers, relatives, social profiles and some public records. It advertises heavily, so if someone has "looked you up" lately, there’s a fair chance it was here.
According to Redact’s broker profile, BeenVerified, LLC is owned by The Lifetime Value Co. (LTVCO), which runs nine consumer brands: BeenVerified, PeopleLooker, PeopleSmart, NeighborWho, Ownerly, NumberGuru, ReversePhone, Bumper and MoneyBot5000. Redact says the brands share one data pipeline, and that PeopleLooker and PeopleSmart "most aggressively duplicate BeenVerified’s people-search listings under different branding."
In other words, removing yourself from BeenVerified alone is a bit like closing one door of a house with nine entrances.
Step by step
These steps follow DeleteMe’s BeenVerified guide, last updated September 2026:
- Open the opt-out search at beenverified.com/app/optout/search.
- Search your name and pick your state from the dropdown.
- Find your listing and click Proceed to Opt Out.
- Enter an email address, complete the CAPTCHA and click Send Verification Email. DeleteMe suggests using a separate address rather than your main one.
- Click "Verify Opt-Out" in the email BeenVerified sends. Nothing happens until you do.
- Wait for the confirmation email saying the opt-out worked.
Opting out is free. You don’t need to create an account or pay for a report.
How long removal takes
DeleteMe’s guide says the listing "should be removed within 24 hours" in one place and within 72 hours in its FAQ. Plan on three days, then check.
Several records?
People who have moved, married or changed their name often have more than one listing. Submit a separate request for each. For bulk removals, Cloaked’s manual opt-out guide notes you can email BeenVerified with your full name, date of birth and the URLs of the records.
The sister sites
Redact is blunt: "Each brand keeps its own opt-out, so removing your BeenVerified listing doesn’t clear the sister sites."
| Brand | Separate opt-out needed? | Notes from Redact |
|---|---|---|
| PeopleLooker | Yes | Duplicates BeenVerified people-search listings; do this one next |
| PeopleSmart | Yes | Also duplicates listings; do it alongside PeopleLooker |
| NeighborWho | Yes | Worth doing if you own property |
| Ownerly | Yes | Worth doing if you own property |
| NumberGuru | Yes | Part of the same group |
| ReversePhone | Runs through BeenVerified’s portal | The one exception Redact names |
So the realistic order is: BeenVerified, then PeopleLooker and PeopleSmart, then NeighborWho and Ownerly if you own a home.
If you live in California: use DROP too
California’s Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) lets residents send one deletion request to every registered data broker. According to CalPrivacy:
- it’s free ("we will never charge you to use DROP");
- it opened to the public on January 1, 2026;
- since August 1, 2026, brokers must check DROP at least every 45 days and delete matching data;
- there are over 600 registered brokers;
- status updates can take up to 90 days to show.
DROP doesn’t replace checking the big people-search sites yourself, but it covers brokers you’ve never heard of. Our DROP guide walks through it.
Checking it worked
Wait three days, then search your name again in a private browser window. If the record is still there, resubmit. DeleteMe’s FAQ says it’s "More than likely" your data gets relisted, because "data brokers relist information about people on a regular basis." Put a reminder in your calendar to check every three months.
While you’re at it
The same records flow between brokers, so one opt-out rarely does the job. Clear Spokeo, Whitepages and the PeopleConnect sites too. If it starts to feel like a part-time job, see free vs paid removal.
People-search sites are only half of your footprint. The other half is breach data, which is where scammers get your email and old passwords. A free email exposure check shows which breaches your address has turned up in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I opt out of BeenVerified in 2026?
Go to beenverified.com/app/optout/search, find your listing, click Proceed to Opt Out, enter an email and click the verification link BeenVerified sends.
How long does BeenVerified take to remove my record?
DeleteMe’s guide says within 24 to 72 hours after you verify by email.
Does opting out of BeenVerified remove me from PeopleLooker and PeopleSmart?
No. They belong to the same parent company, but each brand has its own opt-out, according to Redact.
Is the BeenVerified opt-out free?
Yes. You don’t need an account or to pay for anything.
Can my BeenVerified record come back?
Yes. Brokers relist people regularly, so check every few months and resubmit if needed.
Is there a way to remove myself from all data brokers at once?
California residents can use the free DROP platform, which sends one deletion request to over 600 registered brokers.
Sources
- DeleteMe: How to remove yourself from BeenVerified (updated Sep 2026)
- Redact: BeenVerified broker profile and sister brands
- CalPrivacy: Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP)
- Cloaked: Manual opt-outs for PeopleConnect, Radaris, BeenVerified, Spokeo
- TechRadar: How to opt out of BeenVerified