What is SmartBackgroundChecks and how to opt out

You might have heard about SmartBackgroundChecks only recently, but chances are, it already knows you pretty well. It's a people-search website — a type of data broker accessible to the general public — that, according to its own homepage, contains “information on most adults in the U.S.,” pulled from over 2,000 sources.

In the likely event that there’s a profile about you on SmartBackgroundChecks, details such as your full name, past addresses, and phone number might be in public view. And while SmartBackgroundChecks suggests that it’s there to help users find old childhood friends or look up unknown phone numbers, there’s nothing stopping scammers and fraudsters from using the site to pick their next target.

Fortunately, it’s easy to opt out of data brokers like SmartBackgroundChecks and reduce online exposure of your information in just a few simple steps.

How to opt out of SmartBackgroundChecks

To delete your listing and any associated information from SmartBackgroundChecks, you’ll need to complete the site’s opt-out process. This involves locating your record, verifying your identity, and submitting a removal request. After processing and validating the request, the platform will remove the listing and notify you when the process is complete, which may take several days.

Here’s a guide to opting out of SmartBackgroundChecks:

1. Go directly to the SmartBackgroundChecks opt-out page or scroll to the very bottom of the homepage and click Do Not Sell My Personal Information.

2. Enter a valid email address, accept the terms, and complete the CAPTCHA verification step to start the removal process.

3. Use the search tool to look for the listing you want to be removed from SmartBackgroundChecks, searching by name, city/state, phone, or address.

4. Click your listing when you find it, and then click the Request My Record To Be Removed button.

5. Click the confirmation link in the email SmartBackgroundChecks sends to your inbox to finalize the request.

To confirm your data has been removed, check SmartBackgroundChecks again after 72 hours have passed. And remember, your data can reappear in the future as SmartBackgroundChecks updates its database, so it's worth revisiting every few months to make sure you’re not exposed again.

Other ways to remove your information from SmartBackgroundCheck

Using the online opt-out process is the most straightforward route to removing your information from SmartBackgroundCheck, but there are some other options to try if it doesn’t work for you, including opting out over the phone.

Here’s a more detailed look at alternative methods to opt out of SmartBackgroundChecks:

• Call in: If the online opt-out process isn’t working or you’d rather speak to a person on the phone, you can call SmartBackgroundCheck on 800- 571-0614, although this process may take longer.
• Use a data broker removal service: Automatic data broker removal services, like the one included in LifeLock, monitor for your information across lots of different data broker sites and submit opt-out requests on your behalf.
• Hire an attorney: If your data hasn’t been removed after submitting multiple opt-out requests, or you've suffered harm as a result of it being listed, a privacy attorney could help you get your opt-out request processed.
• Remove your information from Google: Even if your listing on SmartBackgroundChecks is taken down, cached versions can still surface in search results. You can contact Google to ask for these results to be removed from their index using the request form.

While SmartBackgroundCheck claims that it will process opt-out requests regardless of where you live, residents of certain states may have stronger legal rights than others when it comes to online privacy.

According to the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), nearly 20 states, including California, Virginia, and Colorado, have data privacy laws that oblige companies to submit to requests for the deletion of personal information. If you’re in one of those states and you’re struggling to get your information removed from SmartBackgroundCheck, consider contacting local authorities for more information.

What SmartBackgroundChecks does

SmartBackgroundChecks collects information from public records and other data sources to create detailed personal profiles. Users can search by name, address, phone number, or email address to find information such as contact details, addresses, relatives, and other publicly available records.

Information that might appear on your SmartBackgroundChecks profile includes your:

• Full name
• Aliases
• Age
• Current and past addresses
• Phone numbers
• Email addresses
• Family members

SmartBackgroundChecks also links to other data broker websites, like PeopleFinders and PeopleLooker, where users willing to pay for a membership may be able to get more information about you, including arrest records, social media profiles, and owned properties.

This is all perfectly legal — like other data brokers, SmartBackgroundChecks simply compiles data that is already publicly available, trawling billions of public records, like:

• Voter rolls
• Census records
• Property records
• Telephone directories
• Court documents
• Business filings

Is SmartBackgroundChecks legit?

Yes, SmartBackgroundChecks is a legitimate company that operates within the law to aggregate publicly available data. However, the website isn't accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

The FCRA is a federal data privacy law that governs how consumer information is collected, shared, and used for decisions such as employment, housing, insurance, and credit. Companies that qualify as consumer reporting agencies must comply with strict requirements related to accuracy, dispute resolution, and consumer consent.

SmartBackgroundChecks isn’t a consumer reporting agency, meaning its reports cannot legally be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit decisions, or similar purposes. Individuals or organizations that do use the information for those purposes may face legal liability.

At the same time, SmartBackgroundChecks isn’t subject to the same FCRA requirements around accuracy, dispute procedures, or user consent that other data brokers are. While the company may still be subject to certain state privacy laws, those protections vary significantly by jurisdiction.

Why should I remove my information from SmartBackgroundChecks?

Removing your personal information from the internet can help prevent spammers, scammers, and fraudsters from getting the details they need to contact you, make a scam more convincing, or even steal your identity.

These are just some of the potential benefits of removing your information from data broker websites like SmartBackgroundChecks:

• Reduced spam: Your phone number or email address appearing on a data broker site makes you an easy target for robotexting, spam calls, or email marketing campaigns.
• Fewer (and potentially less convincing) phishing attacks: Scammers can turn to data broker websites to find their next targets, harvesting phone numbers and email addresses along with other personal details they can use to craft targeted messages that are much harder to identify as fake.
• Identity theft protection: The more of your personal data cybercriminals can find online, the more likely it is they’ll be able to gather enough to impersonate you in security checks and commit identity theft, whether that’s opening new credit accounts in your name or stealing your tax return.
• Minimize the risk of doxxing: Data brokers make it easy for someone to gather and publish your personal details in a more public online space, like on social media. That can lead to harassment, threats, and the potential for real-world harm from trolls or stalkers.

Tackle data broker exposure automatically

SmartBackgroundChecks isn’t the only data broker to be concerned about — there are hundreds more just like it. Manually opting out of all of them can take hours, and you’ll have to recheck your exposure every few months to make sure your information hasn’t been added again. LifeLock can help you handle the challenge automatically.

The Automatic Data Broker Removal service submits opt-out requests to data brokers like SmartBackgroundCheck on your behalf every 90 days, so you can get peace of mind that your limiting exposure of your personal information online. Plus, you’ll get dark web monitoring, financial account alerts, and more features that can help you protect against fraud and identity theft.

FAQs

Is SmartBackgroundChecks legal?

Yes, SmartBackgroundChecks operates legally by pulling information from public records and collating it into profiles. However, it’s not a Consumer Reporting Agency, so it’s illegal to use it for employment, housing, or credit decisions.

What should I do if I find my information on SmartBackgroundChecks?

If you find your information on SmartBackgroundChecks, or any other data broker website, it’s best to request its removal through the site's opt-out process. However, your data may reappear when these websites refresh their databases, so check back every few months or use a data-broker removal service to stay on top of your exposure.

Is SmartBackgroundChecks safe?

SmartBackgroundChecks is a safe website in the sense that it isn’t a scam, or a front for malware. But your information being listed on the website can be unsafe, giving scammers or fraudsters access to details they can use to target you in phishing attacks or steal your identity.