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5 myths about data broker opt-outs that expose retirees
By Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report
Published November 12, 2026
Have you already tried removing your personal information from data broker sites? If so, you might have Googled your name, disliked what you saw and spent an afternoon filling out opt-out forms on sites like Spokeo, Whitepages and BeenVerified. That took real effort, and it wasn't wasted. Unfortunately, completing a few data broker opt-outs doesn't necessarily mean your information will stay private.
It comes down to how data brokers operate. Their practices can be confusing, and some common misconceptions leave people exposed without realizing it. For retirees, the stakes can be especially high. Decades of public records, property ownership history and family connections can give scammers plenty of information to work with.
I've spent years covering how scammers operate. And here's something I've noticed. Sometimes, people take reasonable steps to protect themselves, then assume the problem has been solved. That's where trouble can begin. Let's clear up five myths about data broker opt-outs that could put your privacy and financial security at risk.
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WHY CAREFUL PEOPLE STILL END UP ON DATA BROKER SITES
Even after removing your personal information from data broker websites, your name, address and family details could still be exposed online. (Getty)
Myth 1: "I already opted out, so my data is gone"
This may be the most dangerous misconception, especially for retirees who've already taken steps to protect their privacy. Here's the reality. Hundreds of data brokers operate in the United States. When you submit an opt-out request to Spokeo, you've addressed your information on that particular service. What about everyone else? Other data brokers may still have your name, home address, phone number and information about your relatives. Some also compile estimates about your finances and property. And even the site you opted out of could eventually list your information again.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, information can reappear on people-search websites when the underlying public records change. Those records may include property filings and other government documents that remain publicly accessible. That's why one round of data broker opt-outs may only provide temporary relief.
Myth 2: "My family's personal information doesn't affect me"
This one concerns me because it involves the people closest to us. Data broker profiles frequently include information about relatives and household members. That means your information could still appear in someone else's listing even after you've removed your own profile. Let's say your daughter completes several opt-outs. Her personal listing disappears from those sites.
However, your profile could still identify her as a relative and reveal details about where she lives. Now consider what happens when a scammer uses that information to research your family. Your phone rings. "Grandpa, it's me. I'm in the hospital. Please don't tell Mom. She'll worry. Can you wire me $1,200?" The caller knows your granddaughter's name and how you're related. Those details can make the emergency sound believable. And with AI voice cloning, criminals may even imitate a loved one's voice if they have access to a suitable audio sample. This type of fraud is commonly called the grandparent scam. The consequences can be devastating.
According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, people 60 and older filed more than 201,000 complaints involving over $7.7 billion in reported losses. The average reported loss was approximately $38,500 per complaint. Those figures cover internet crime reported by older adults, not grandparent scams alone. Still, they show the financial danger facing this age group. A family code word and a rule to call relatives back using a trusted number can help stop these scams before money changes hands.
Myth 3: "My information isn't interesting enough to target"
I understand why this feels true. You're probably not a celebrity. You may not post much on social media. Perhaps you've lived a relatively private life. Why would a scammer care about you?
Here's what someone searching data broker websites might discover:
- Your home address and estimated property value
- Previous addresses going back decades
- Names of relatives and possible household connections
- Your approximate age and past employment
- Information suggesting your income range or financial circumstances
DATA BROKERS DON'T JUST COLLECT FACTS. THEY GUESS ABOUT YOU
Regularly checking data broker websites and submitting removal requests can help reduce the personal information scammers can find about you. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
The amount and accuracy of this information vary by broker. However, criminals can combine publicly available details with information from other sources to build a more convincing profile. Think about how many companies still ask questions about your previous addresses or family history when verifying your identity. Suddenly, those old records become more valuable to someone trying to impersonate you. And the concern goes beyond theory.
A 2025 analysis of FBI data estimated that access to personal information online could have contributed to 72% of reported internet-crime incidents involving older Americans in 2024. However, that figure is based on an assessment of crime categories and does not prove that data brokers played a role in every case. Still, the findings highlight how exposed personal details can help criminals carry out scams.
Retirees may be especially attractive targets because scammers often assume they've accumulated savings or valuable property. The less personal information criminals can easily find, the harder it becomes for them to create convincing, personalized scams.
Myth 4: "If I haven't been targeted yet, I must be safe"
Here's another way to think about that. You may have received a suspicious email that landed in your spam folder. Perhaps someone called pretending to represent your bank, but you hung up. Or maybe you got a strange text message and deleted it without responding. Any of those situations sound familiar? Scammers attempt to reach people every day. However, you may never know whether a particular attempt used information from a data broker.
Meanwhile, your personal details could remain available online. Some data brokers continually update their databases as new information becomes available. As a result, previously removed information may eventually reappear. And there's evidence that personal data has been deliberately supplied to criminals. In September 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice announced prison sentences for two former Epsilon employees involved in selling targeted consumer lists to fraudsters. According to prosecutors, those lists helped criminals target older and vulnerable Americans through fraudulent mail campaigns. In one scheme, the criminals defrauded more than 218,000 victims out of over $23.7 million.
That's a sobering example of how personal information can become a tool for financial crime. If you're retired and have spent decades building your savings, protecting information about your household deserves serious attention. Waiting until something goes wrong could prove expensive.
Myth 5: "This is a technology problem for younger people"
Maybe your grandchildren grew up with smartphones and social media. You didn't. So it's tempting to think online privacy concerns belong to younger generations. But data brokers don't need you to have an Instagram account to collect information about your life. Think about the records you've accumulated over the years. Perhaps you bought your first home in 1978. That property transaction may still appear in public records.
You might also have records associated with:
- Previous home purchases and sales
- Divorce or probate proceedings
- Business registrations and professional licenses
- Political donations
- Address changes over several decades
Some of this information can be legally obtained through public records and other databases. And although the amount of information varies, data brokers can combine records from different sources to create detailed profiles. Your grandchildren may have more social media activity. However, you could have a much longer public record history. That's worth remembering the next time someone suggests online privacy is only a concern for younger people.
DATA BROKER OPT-OUT: HOW RETIREES CAN PROTECT THEIR DATA
Scammers can use personal details about your family to make fraudulent phone calls sound convincing, putting retirees at risk of financial loss. (iStock)
How to make data broker opt-outs more effective
The most practical approach involves regular checks and repeated removal requests. You can do this yourself by searching data broker websites, submitting opt-out forms and returning periodically to see whether your information has reappeared.
The Federal Trade Commission confirms that manual opt-outs are free, although the process can take time. And with hundreds of data brokers collecting personal information, keeping track of every website can feel overwhelming.
Another option is to use a personal data removal service. These services can automate opt-out requests across multiple data broker websites and continue checking for information that reappears. Some also offer family plans, which may be helpful for retirees whose personal information is connected to adult children or other relatives.
However, no service can remove every piece of information from the internet. Public records and information held outside participating databases may remain accessible.
The goal is to reduce how much personal information scammers can easily find about you. Whether you handle removals yourself or use an automated service, staying consistent is one of the best ways to help protect your privacy.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
Kurt's key takeaways
Here's what concerns me most. You can spend hours removing your personal information from data broker websites and still have details about your life floating around online. That's frustrating, especially when you've already made the effort to protect yourself. And for retirees, decades of public records can give scammers information they may use to make a convincing phone call or attempt to steal your identity. Your family's information can also lead criminals right back to you. That's why I believe ongoing data removal deserves a place in your privacy routine. A data removal service can help make that process easier, although no service can guarantee everything will disappear. My advice? Don't assume one round of opt-outs means you're finished. Keep checking, talk to your family about protecting their information and remember that a scammer who knows personal details about you could still be a complete stranger.
Have you ever searched your name online and been shocked by how much personal information was available? What worries you more, strangers knowing where you live or having access to details about your children and grandchildren? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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