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Instant Checkmate Opt Out & Data Removal Guide

The Instant Checkmate opt-out process can be tricky. It’s currently owned by another people search site called PeopleConnect. They handle the opt-out process for Instant Checkmate and while, at a glance, it looks easy and straightforward, the process can lead you down dead ends with seemingly no way out. 

We’ve gone through the PeopleConnect opt-out procedure and identified all of these potential dead ends for you, along with the ways out. Follow our step-by-step instructions below to remove your data from Instant Checkmate and any other people search sites owned by PeopleConnect.

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Federico Morelli

Opt-out process: 10 – 15 minutes

Removal Requirements: Email, Phone number

Updated: July 4, 2024

Keep reading for screenshots and more in-depth instructions.

We’ve written around 85 data broker opt-out guides to make manual data removal easy. Check them out!

featured image for instantchckmate opt out

Step-by-step Instant Checkmate opt-out guide

Total Time: 10 minutes

  1. Go to https://suppression.peopleconnect.us/login and enter your email address

    You need to go to the PeopleConnect suppression page to opt out from Instant Checkmate. Go to https://suppression.peopleconnect.us/login, enter your email address (make sure it’s the one that’s likely to be associated with the most information), and click “continue.”

    If you have more than one email address that may have online records associated with it, we recommend you follow the process for each email.

    TIP: While we always recommend using a VPN to protect your online privacy and security, PeopleConnect may not feel the same way. Through multiple rounds of trial and error, we’ve identified that using a VPN may lead you to an error message (with no explanation that the VPN may be to blame). 

  2. Verify your email address

    PeopleConnect will send you a verification email. Click “verify email” to continue with the removal process. 

  3. To suppress your data, enter your date of birth

    Enter your date of birth, tick the checkbox, and click “continue.” Make sure you add the right date of birth as it cannot be changed later.

  4. Enter your name

    Enter your legal first and last name and click “continue.” At this step, you can potentially add additional names.

  5. Select your record

    Select the right record and click “continue.” If more than one record belongs to you, take note of the one you remove on this round and start another opt-out process from Step 1 for each record you wish to remove. 

  6. Select a verification method

    Instant Checkmate Opt Out TBE 4

    Select the means of verification from the drop-down menu. Enter the code they send you into the field below and click “continue.” You may be asked to confirm the removal request again, so be sure to check your inbox for any verification emails. 

    TIP: If you don’t have access to any of the verification methods available, you’ll have to email an opt-out request to PeopleConnect at privacy@peopleconnect.us.

  7. Verify the deletion request

    Opt Out TBE 3

    You’ll receive another verification email. Open it and click the link inside to complete the process.

  8. Enter your email and click “delete my user data”

    Instant Checkmate Opt Out TBE 2

    Scroll down to the “right to delete” section, enter your email address, and click “delete my user data.” 

10. Continue your data removal journey

Data removal is a journey and you’ve just (possibly) taken the first and most important step.

Whatever reasons you had to want to remove yourself from Instant Checkmate’s database, they probably also apply to the hundreds of other data brokers that could have profiles on you. To manually request removal from them all, you’d need to follow a different opt-out procedure for each one. Here are a few guides:

We’re here to help with detailed guides for the major data brokers you’re likely to come across. But there’s an easier, faster, and more effective way: make use of an automated data removal service like Incogni!

Alternative Instant Checkmate opt-out methods

Aside from the opt-out process in this guide, you can also email an opt-out request to  privacy@peopleconnect.us. 

Make sure you provide your full name, date of birth, current address, and the URL of the listing you want Instant Checkmate to remove. Be careful not to give them any information they don’t already have, though.

FAQ

Is Instant Checkmate legal?

Yes, instantcheckmate.com is legal. It has to operate in accordance with data privacy laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). It’s thanks to laws like this that Instant Checkmate has to remove your personal information when asked.

Where does Instant Checkmate get your data?

Instant Checkmate scrapes the internet for public records, bringing scraps of information together from potentially thousands of sources to make up a detailed report on you. 

Is Instant Checkmate a subscription?

Instant Checkmate is a data broker with some free and some subscription-based people search and non-FCRA compliant background-check services. Users can perform searches without a subscription, but having a paid account unlocks more report details.

What kind of sensitive information does Instant Checkmate collect?

Instant Checkmate collects sensitive information such as full names, relatives, financial information, court and criminal records, employment history, and social media profiles. 

How long does it take to complete the Instant Checkmate opt-out process?

The Instant Checkmate opt-out process should only take 5 – 10 minutes. 

How long does it take Instant Checkmate to delete my data after I send a data removal request?

Instant Checkmate should remove your personal information within 48 hours of your data-removal request submission. 

Will Instant Checkmate collect my data again once I opt out?

Instant Checkmate may collect your data again even after you successfully opt out. This often happens when a data broker fails to match the new data it scrapes with your opted-out profile.
To avoid this, we recommend you re-do the opt-out process periodically or subscribe to Incogni so we can do it for you automatically. 

Does Instant Checkmate charge a fee for data removal?

No, Instant Checkmate does not charge a fee for removing your data—you don’t need to pay at any stage of the opt-out process.

What is Instant Checkmate?

nstant Checkmate is a people search site that scrapes public records for personal information. It uses this data to create detailed, searchable profiles on everyday Americans like you. The Instant Checkmate website boasts 3,500,000+ monthly users.

This data broker offers users reports that may include your: 

– Social media profiles
– First and last name
– Phone numbers
– Address information
– Family members
– Traffic offenses
– Misdemeanors
– Arrest records
– Sexual offenses
– Felonies
– Mugshots
– Court records
– Civil judgments
– Bankruptcies
– Tax liens
– Foreclosures
– UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) filings
– Weapons permits
– Assets (property and vehicles).

Some of these records require users to set up a paid account, but with Instant Checkmate’s $1 trial, this isn’t much of an obstacle.

Having all this personal information in one, easily searchable and accessible place exposes you to a number of very real threats, including discrimination, scams, harassment, doxxing, stalking (online and offline), and even identity theft. 

People search sites like Instant Checkmate don’t just set you up to have your privacy invaded; they put you at considerable risk of harassment and victimization, even if you “have nothing to hide.”

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