Here's How to Delete Your Digital & Real Estate Footprint

First we'll talk digital footprints & then we'll finish with your real estate addresses.

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Step 1: Make a list of every email account you've ever used

Use the steps below to find them on various platforms.

Once you reset or find the passwords, log them all into a spreadsheet.

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2. Google every username you ever remember using & go deep

Add them to your spreadsheet with their associated websites.

Don't forget the Pokemon forum you posted in in 2007!

Use knowem.com to search for your DrAgOnSlAyEr69 username to see where else you used it.

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3. IMPORTANT: Enter in every email and phone you can remember using on HaveIBeenPwned.com

This site will tell you if they've ever been in a data breach.

Make note of that in a column in your spreadsheet.

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4. Take it another step deeper and see how many accounts are linked directly to your Gmail accounts using the below steps

Add that to your sheet as well.

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5. Do the same with popular social media platforms

Don't overlook Facebook & LinkedIn.

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6. Search these words in your email accounts for any accounts you might have missed

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7. Start deleting

IMPORTANT! For random forums, you need to delete all comments & posts before deleting the account.

The content may stay even when the account is gone (Reddit).

If it's a site you may use again, change the username to something anon.

Otherwise just delete.

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8. If you can't find a "Delete Account" option, email the site and request it

Note: In most US states, companies don't HAVE to delete your data.

Regulations are only strict in 3 (CA, CO and VA).

But most sites will comply if you ask formally.

Europe is more strict with GDPR.

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9. There used to be a site that would help automate all this but I forget the name. Be wary of them as well.

This process is tedious but well worth the time. Worth doing manually IMO.

Old forum usernames are often overlooked.

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Continue below for real estate address privacy tips:

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10. Start with the low hanging fruit: WhitePages.com

20 MILLION people per month use it to stalk you.

Go there & search for yourself. Yep, there you are!

Copy that URL and paste it under their suppression requests tab & follow the steps.

You're not done though!

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11. Set up a Google Alert with your name in quotation marks & part of your address in quotation marks to see where else your address might be available

You'll want to use this to find more sites to scrub clean AND you'll want it active for (only) the rest of your life.

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12. Start finding the White Pages clones

The good news is that many sites use WP's API to pull your data directly. Once it's gone from WP it MAY be gone from others.

The bad news is that many other sites don't. They get your data from who knows where?

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13: Don't forget:

True People Search

Truth Finder

Been Verified

Zaba Search

Peek You

People Finders

Intelius

411

Anywho

Fast People Search

Yellowbook

Addresses.com

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Request to opt out of all of them. They should comply.

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Now to cover your tracks:

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14. Go to CourtRecordFinder.com

Those guys have been aggregating court data since 2007!

Email them & request to be opted out.

This will be a high ROI activity.

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15: You still need an address!

I recommend a UPS Box, as most PO boxes are sold out.

Also, walking into a UPS store is 10x better than walking into a post office, no?

It's cheap. Or you can also use private services like Traveling Mailbox. (0 affiliation w/ anything mentioned).

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16: Go to the County Clerk's office. Your source for:

Court records

Marriage licenses

Old wills

Probate cases

Deeds & mortgages

Government surveys

Civil circuit files

Birth certificates

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Call beforehand to see how much data scrubbing will be possible, as this varies widely.

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17. Go to the DMV

I know, I know, that's why this tweet is buried at the end.

I'd rather be punched in the face than go to the DMV, but it makes a difference!

Call beforehand & see if you can change your address of record to your new virtual address.

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18. Check with your mortgage lender to see if they "allow privacy vehicle documentation"

See if your can get your properties in an LLC or a trust.

If not, start doing that from now on, and consult a lawyer.

It's not perfect, but it's a ton of friction for guys like me.

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19. My suggestion? Choose only the things above that fit your time budget

We'll never be perfectly private but this will help.

I find commercial real estate owners' contact info to buy their properties & hope they aren't reading this!

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Always appreciate a follow @mhp_guy

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If you want to join the dark side and enlist our help in finding off market property owners for great cap rates, you can find me at (https://offmarketers.com/)