Kaspersky estimates there are more than 4,000 global data broker websites containing billions of pieces of our personal information that they then sell on to the highest bidder. Their entire business model is based on how much money they can make from your data.
Out of the thousands of global data broker websites, USPhonebook is one of the biggest, and there are risks to appearing on their database. Read on to find out more.
In This Article
What Is USPhoneBook, and Why Does It List Personal Information?
USPhoneBook is one of the most popular people-search and phone-lookup websites in the US. It’s essentially a reverse lookup service, and according to USPhoneBook, “USPhoneBook is your one-stop resource for reverse phone lookups and leading data that gets you the answers you need.”
Essentially, it’s a massive and open, free-to-use database of personal records available for anyone to look at as long as their data is stored on USPhoneBook.
There are no restrictions, and their database is operating legally.
In the US, data brokers can publish specific categories of personal records legally as long as they come from lawful sources and comply with regulations such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act or the California Consumer Privacy Act. And their database has only collected personal data that was already on the internet anyway, so it falls under the lawful category. It is possible to opt out of USPhoneBook, but many people are still unaware of how important it is.
What Types of Personal Data Can Appear on USPhoneBook?
The platform gathers all of the information from public records and our digital footprint. It can lawfully display the following information:
- Names
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
- Relatives’ information
- Employment information
- Social media profiles
- Internet activity
Essentially, everything you don’t want is in the hands of the wrong people.
The issue with your information being on their database is that it’s a free search website, creating a massive privacy risk for spam and identity theft.
How Does Appearing on USPhoneBook Increase Privacy and Security Risks?
The privacy and security risks of the information mentioned above being displayed on their database are extensive. They might operate lawfully, but the people who can openly access your personal data might not be.
The biggest privacy and security risks are:
| Risk Type | How USPhoneBook Contributes | Why It’s a Problem | Real-World Impact |
| Identity profiling | Combines name, phone, address, relatives | Creates a near-complete personal profile | Easier identity theft or impersonation |
| Scam targeting | Makes contact details easy to find | Scammers can personalise attacks | Higher success rate for fraud |
| Phishing | Confirms real names and phone numbers | Emails and messages look legitimate | Increased chance of clicking malicious links |
| Social engineering | Exposes family and location data | Attackers build trust faster | Account takeovers or financial loss |
| Doxxing risk | Publicly lists home addresses | Enables harassment or stalking | Personal safety concerns |
| Caller spoofing | Provides real numbers to mimic | Calls appear more convincing | More people answer scam calls |
| Data resale | Information copied by other sites | Exposure spreads beyond one platform | Harder to fully remove data |
| Long-term exposure | Old data remains online | Profiles persist for years | Ongoing privacy erosion |
| Workplace targeting | Links names to locations | Enables business-focused scams | Risk to employers and colleagues |
| Reduced anonymity | Removes friction to identify you | Loss of digital privacy | Less control over personal information |
Who Can Access Your USPhoneBook Listing?
Anyone. It’s as simple as that. Once your personal information is on USPhoneBook, anyone with access to the internet and the website can search for your name, email address, or phone number, and they’ll see all of the data they store about you in their listing.
To see if you’re on their database, you can search for your name, phone number, or email address and see if any information appears.
How Long Can Your Information Stay on USPhoneBook
Your information can stay on their database until you remove it. There’s no limit to the amount of time they’re legally allowed to store your data, and they can add additional data to it with more information that becomes publicly available.
Even if the information is outdated (it’s probably better for you if the information is outdated), whatever data is stored about you on their database will remain there for years unless you remove yourself from the website—more on that in the next section. If you follow the steps below, your data will remain on US PhoneBook for up to 72 hours, after which it will be 100% removed.
How to Reduce the Risks Associated With USPhoneBook Listings
The only way to reduce the risks associated with a listing on their database is to request that your data be removed from the database. It’s a step-by-step process that takes between 5 and 10 minutes to do—and it’s definitely worth doing if you want to reduce the associated security and privacy risks.
Step 1: Click on the Opt-Out page on the USPhoneBook website
Once you’re on their website, scroll to the bottom and click on “do not sell my personal information.” It’s clearly displayed at the bottom of the home page. That will then load the opt-out page.
Step 2: Verify Your Email
Before you can opt out, the platform will make you read through the privacy policy and terms of use. Once you’ve clicked the two accept boxes, you can then enter your email for verification and start the removal request.
Step 3: Find and Open Your Listing on USPhoneBook
You can find your listing by searching for your name, email, or phone number – you’ll also have to add your city and state. It should bring up your listing, and to open it, click on view full address and phone.
Step 4: Finish the Opt-Out Request
Once you’ve confirmed it’s your personal information, click “remove record.” You’ll then be asked to go to the verified email you input at the beginning of the removal request. Check your inbox for an email from USPhoneBook, and click on the blue “click here to remove [your name]” button.
Note: it’s only a temporary solution, and they can re-add your data by re-ingesting data from external sources like public records and data brokers.
Why Removing Your Data From One Site Is Only a Partial Solution
That step-by-step process will get your information removed from the database, but there are thousands of other databases, some of which will almost certainly have your information.
The reason the data broker industry generates so much money, $294.27 billion in 2025 (Mordor Intelligence), is that they can legally take any information freely available online about you and add it to their database listing.
And if you’ve never followed the process of removing your personal data from the internet, your digital footprint is likely huge.
Performing a complete removal of your personal data from the internet is the most complete solution. With that, a third-party data removal service will contact all the data brokers with a listing of your personal information and ask them to remove it for you.
It’s a more definitive solution that keeps your personal data off the internet and your privacy secure.
How People Limit Exposure Across Multiple Data Broker Sites
You must limit your exposure across multiple data broker sites if you want to protect your privacy and reduce security risks. Some of the best ways to do it are:
- Manual opt-outs
- What it involves: Submitting removal requests on each site
- Why it works: Directly removes visible listings
- Limitations: Time-consuming and repetitive
- Regular rechecks
- What it involves: Reviewing listings every few months
- Why it works: Catches re-published data early
- Limitations: Requires ongoing effort
- Limiting public sharing
- What it involves: Avoiding posting contact details online
- Why it works: Reduces new data collection
- Limitations: Doesn’t affect existing data
- Using aliases
- What it involves: Using separate emails or phone numbers
- Why it works: Limits the spread of primary details
- Limitations: Old data still circulates
- Locking down social media
- What it involves: Restricting profile visibility
- Why it works: Reduces data scraping
- Limitations: Not all brokers rely on social media
- Data broker opt-out tools
- What it involves: Using automated removal services
- Why it works: Scales across many sites
- Limitations: Often paid services
- Reducing app permissions
- What it involves: Limiting contact and data access
- Why it works: Prevents indirect data leaks
- Limitations: Apps may already have shared data
- Removing old accounts
- What it involves: Closing unused services and profiles
- Why it works: Stops future data sharing
- Limitations: Past data may persist
- Monitoring breach alerts
- What it involves: Tracking exposure from leaks
- Why it works: Enables faster response
- Limitations: Does not remove existing listings
- Repeating the process
- What it involves: Treating removal as ongoing
- Why it works: Maintains lower exposure over time
- Limitations: No permanent, one-time fix
Frequently Asked Questions About USPhoneBook Risks
What are the risks of my information being on USPhoneBook?
The main risks include:
- Identity theft
- Scams and phishing
- General spam
- Harassment and stalking
Will my personal information be taken from USPhoneBook and used maliciously?
Yes, 100%. The database is free to use, meaning anyone can access your personal information and use it maliciously. That’s why it’s essential to remove your listing from their website.
How long after the USPhoneBook opt-out process until my data is removed?
Your data should be removed from the USPhoneBook within 72 hours. If it takes longer than that, contact the database directly. Their information is on their contact page.
