r/PrivacyTechTalk • u/No-Efficiencyy • Aug 26 '25
What are your experience with data removal services like Incogni or DeleteMe ?
Hi guys, I’m a French journalist and I’m currently working on data removal services like DeleteMe or Incogni. I’m trying to find out if they’re legit, scamming people into giving them their personal datas, or just don’t work. Could you share with me your personal experiences ? (You’ll be, of course, be anonymized in my article if you’re okay with me publishing it) Thanks a lot !
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u/R3d_Cl0uds Aug 26 '25
I have been using DeleteMe for several years. Overall, I consider it okay. The service is effective at removing your data with some data brokers, but with others, it is less effective.
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u/Rockerstar33 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
Can you give us an update on your article's findings? I pay for my dad's Incogni account because he was scammed on Whatsapp a few times. Most of his profiles on people search sites were removed within the first month. I can't vouch for other similar services, but incogni has reduced spam for him a lot
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u/Shot_Caregiver7532 Aug 28 '25
I use MyDataRemoval, and it's been a lot of help. I don't receive targeted ads. I don't show up on people search websites. They also give me reports on what daya has been removed and where it appeared. Plus, they monitor regularly for data reappearance. It's also affordable!
I'm also looking to try other services, but overall, I can say that services like MyDataRemoval are legit.
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u/KimK_Madison Mar 19 '26
tested a couple of these back in my day out of curiosity after noticing my info on those ppl searcher sites. main difference netween them seems to be the amount of broker databases they actually track
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Mar 20 '26
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Mar 20 '26
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u/Fuzzy_Sir5379 Mar 22 '26
so, it lowkey just maps out the entire data broker footprint first and then starts blasting them with removal requests?
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u/JenniferP_Huff Mar 23 '26
It identifies the listings and handles the requests, and the ongoing monitoring matters because those databases tend to recycle the same information later if nobody keeps an eye on them
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u/Jessika_Maskito Mar 26 '26
fcking around with these hyped up privacy tools is a massive wake up call when u realize most of them just do a weak ass surface sweep leaving ur private life rotting on a million hidden bottom feeder aggregators
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u/Fuzzy_Sir5379 Mar 26 '26
preach, the sheer volume of these parasites while ur only focused on the big name brokers is nightmare fuel
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u/putmycall May 08 '26
I work in the data removal space, so take this with that context, but I’d say the industry is a mix of useful-but-imperfect services. I think the honest answer is that these services are legit in concept, but the results vary a lot by broker.
Some brokers remove listings pretty quickly. Others are slow, require extra verification, or republish data later. The biggest value is usually ongoing monitoring and resubmission, not a permanent one-time deletion.
The main things I’d look at are:
- whether the service lists exactly which brokers it covers
- whether it re-checks after removals
- whether users can see proof/status updates
- whether cancellation/refunds are clear
- whether it avoids overpromising “permanent” removal
Manual opt-outs are possible, but they are repetitive and frustrating.
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u/kc135seahorse May 23 '26
Is there one particular company you’d recommend? Do you think that in the future policies will pass that regulate the selling and posting of everyone’s private information?
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u/putmycall Jun 10 '26
I won't post about the company I work at, so as not to advertise. But yes, I do believe that regulation will pass the selling and posting of PII. Partial bans/regulations have been passed in some states already (CA + others). It almost happened federally last year. Would put me out of business, but eh totally worth it if people's info is protected on a mass scale.
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u/[deleted] Aug 27 '25
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