PrivateEye Opt-Out

What is PrivateEye?

PrivateEye is an online vital records and people search provider. Anyone can enter basic consumer details into its search engine and uncover information about another person. Usually, all it takes is a name, address, or phone number to generate a report.

The results often combine these core identifiers with additional data gathered from across the internet and affiliated data sources. One of PrivateEye's main goals is to link an individual to possible relatives, associates, and past connections. That tends to be where the reports feel especially revealing.

PrivateEye operates as part of the Confi-Chek family of data services. As a Confi-Chek subsidiary, it pulls information from a shared network of affiliates and partner databases. When someone runs a search, the final report is curated by PrivateEye but generated using PeopleFinders access, along with technology from Enformion and other third parties overseen by Confi Chek.

The opt-out tutorials below explain how to remove your information from both PrivateEye and PeopleFinders public searches. Opting out of PeopleFinders will also remove your data from PrivateEye. The reverse is not true, so opting out of PrivateEye alone will not automatically remove your record from PeopleFinders.

Information Needed to Remove My Name from PrivateEye

There are no strict personal requirements to opt out of PrivateEye or PeopleFinders. Both opt-out processes are free, and neither requires you to create an account.

PrivateEye's dedicated opt-out form does not ask for contact information. However, its "Contact Us" form does require an email address. PeopleFinders, on the other hand, requires an email address for verification purposes. That email does not need to already exist in their system.

The ability to use an alternative email address is especially important for privacy-conscious users. Using a separate email adds a layer of distance between you and the data brokers you interact with. When used correctly, alternative emails and phone numbers help protect your personal information from misuse and reduce the risk of unwanted follow-ups or broader exposure affecting you or your family.

Numbers protect your personal information from cyber threats and your family from avoidable consequences.

What Are My Options for Opting-Out

PrivateEye provides a single opt-out form for removing your information from its public search results. That said, there are multiple ways this form appears across the site. Depending on how you access it, the request may be accepted or may return an error message.

The tutorials below walk through both options. One uses the so-called official opt-out form, which is currently unreliable. The other uses the Contact Us form, which has been consistently functional as of 2023.

After the PrivateEye walkthrough, you'll find instructions for completing the PeopleFinders opt-out process. Since opting out of PeopleFinders also removes your data from PrivateEye, this step is especially important if you want the most complete removal possible.

How to Remove Information from PrivateEye: Tutorials

PrivateEye's Opt-Out Form(s)

When consumers begin the process of opting out of PrivateEye, they often start with a quick online search. Despite being outdated, the first few opt-out guides usually appear credible and attract clicks.

Many of these tutorials, along with PrivateEye's own privacy policy, direct users toward the official opt-out form. This is where most people run into problems. Once personal information is entered into that form, one of two outcomes typically occurs. In most cases, a temporary banner appears stating something like "please retry". In other cases, the site returns an error message claiming that too many requests have been made. At present, this form does not provide a reliable opt-out solution.

Fortunately, there is another working instance of the opt-out form. This version is accessed through PrivateEye's Contact Us page. There are two ways to reach it, outlined below.

Step One

After opening the Contact Us page, scroll to the bottom. On the left or middle of the screen, locate the dark blue button that reads "Click here to opt out!" Select it.

Alternative Step One

Open the same page and focus on the Subject section of the message form. Click "Select your option", then choose "OPT ME OUT".

Step Two

Either option above causes the message section to automatically populate with an embedded version of the official opt-out form. Once it appears, enter your first name, last name, city, and state. Complete the CAPTCHA and select the "Opt out" button to finish.

After submission, the page redirects to a confirmation screen. It includes a dancing hamster, which is unusual, but it does indicate that the request was received.

Skeptical users may prefer to contact customer support directly instead of relying on the automated opt-out process. Notably, the alternative step one above uses the "OPT ME OUT" subject option. To reach a representative, users should choose one of the other available subject options from the dropdown menu.

For this example, the selection used is "Received an Error Message".

Open the PrivateEye Contact Us page in a new tab. Select the appropriate subject line, then enter your full name. Provide an accessible email address, preferably an alternative one. You will then need to write a brief message to the support team. The form allows only 250 characters.

An example message is:

"My name is [Full Name]. I live in [City, State]. I am requesting to opt out of the sharing and selling of my information. Please remove all information associated with me from PrivateEye public searches and confirm once complete".

After writing the message, complete the CAPTCHA and select "Send Message". The page will refresh and display a temporary blue banner confirming that the message was successfully sent. At this point, you will need to wait for a response from the support team.

If you want, I can do the same treatment for the PeopleFinders section so both guides match perfectly in tone and structure.

PeopleFinders' Alternative Opt-Out Form

If the PrivateEye confirmation page leaves you unconvinced, opting out through PeopleFinders is the more dependable route. PeopleFinders functions as an aggregate report provider, while PrivateEye operates more like a search engine. Removing your information from PeopleFinders public searches also prevents your record from appearing in PrivateEye results.

A PeopleFinders opt-out does not remove your information from every data broker. Instead, it stops PeopleFinders from sharing and exchanging your data with its affiliates and applicable third parties. Even so, this step significantly reduces your overall online exposure.

To begin the PeopleFinders opt-out process, open the website's main landing page. You will need to obtain a profile URL to complete the request. Each opt-out applies to a single record, so every suppression request must include its corresponding profile link. PeopleFinders makes locating the correct profile URL relatively straightforward.

Step One

After opening the PeopleFinders website, enter your first and last name into the search fields. Add your city and state to narrow the results. When ready, click the green "Search Now" button.

Step Two

The page will refresh and display one or more records. Locate the listing that most closely matches your information. Some details may be outdated or incorrectly associated, as the data is drawn from public records. Accuracy does not affect your ability to opt out.

If you want to correct or edit information instead, that requires creating a PeopleFinders account.

Once you identify the correct record, do not click the listing itself. Doing so launches a paid search. Instead, right-click the green "View Details" button and copy the link address.

Step Four

Open the PeopleFinders opt-out page that explains how to submit a profile URL. Paste the copied link into the designated field, making sure it follows the example format shown on the page.

Next, enter an accessible email address. Using an alternative email is recommended. Complete the CAPTCHA and click the green "Send Request" button.

The screen should dim and display a pop-up prompting you to check your email. Close the pop-up by clicking the gray "X" in the top right corner or by selecting the green "Okay" button.

Step Five

Open the email sent from do_not_reply@peoplefinders.com. It contains two links. The first displays the profile name. The second reads "Remove [your name]'s profile". Select the second link. The opt-out request will not complete unless this step is finished.

Step Six

The link opens a final verification page. Complete the CAPTCHA and click the green "Send Request" button.

The last page in the process is a request confirmation screen. Allow up to two days before searching for your profile on PeopleFinders and up to one month for removal from PrivateEye.

Opting out of PeopleFinders stops the exchange of your personal data with its affiliates. The more opt-outs a consumer completes across data brokers, the harder it becomes for exposed information to circulate online and the safer their digital footprint becomes overall.

Return After Your PrivateEye Opt-Out

PrivateEye's opt-out process can feel underwhelming. The confirmation page does little to reassure users that their request is taken seriously, and the limited functionality of the form naturally raises doubts. That skepticism is justified. Some people search websites quietly and ignore opt-out requests unless legally compelled to act, and PrivateEye is not immune to that risk. Realistically, the only control a consumer has is to return and check their status periodically.

Revisiting the site every six months or once a year is a practical safeguard. New public records can surface over time and may be linked to newly generated profiles, which then require fresh suppression requests. While data brokers can display information going back decades, PeopleFinders and PrivateEye typically keep records accessible for up to twelve months. This guide reflects the opt-out processes outlined in PrivateEye's privacy policy as of 2023, but routine follow-ups remain the most reliable way to limit long-term exposure.