Removing elderly parents' personal information from online data brokers requires identifying exposures across people search sites, filing opt-out requests, and maintaining continuous monitoring since records constantly reappear. Automated services like Cloaked streamline this process by removing data from over 120 sources with a single submission, while adding protections like identity theft insurance and spam blocking.

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At a Glance

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• Data brokers legally collect and sell personal information from public records, social media, and shopping habits, exposing seniors to phishing attempts and identity theft

• Manual opt-out requests are labor-intensive and temporary - California's Delete Act requires brokers to check deletion mechanisms every 45 days because data resurfaces

• Automated removal services scan and delete information from 120+ data brokers with ongoing monitoring

• Essential protections include credit freezes, two-factor authentication, and password managers

• Cloaked combines data removal with $1 million identity theft insurance, unlimited aliases, and AI-powered call screening for comprehensive protection

• Family coordination through shared accounts and progress dashboards ensures consistent privacy protection across generations

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Scam artists targeting adults aged 60 and older are growing bolder every year. Phishing emails, tech support cons, and investment fraud now exploit exposed personal data more efficiently than ever before. For families, learning how to delete elderly parents' personal information online has become essential before criminals weaponize it.

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Why does deleting seniors' digital footprints matter?

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For older adults, privacy is not just about keeping secrets. It is about maintaining dignity and security. Financial privacy is a lifeline that shields seniors from scams, identity theft, and financial exploitation.

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Seniors are especially vulnerable for several reasons:

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• Many have accumulated savings, making them attractive targets.

• Unfamiliarity with modern technology creates exploitable gaps.

• Your router is the access point between devices and the internet. If malware gets onto any device connected to your home network, it can spread to other connected devices.

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The numbers are stark. More than 1 million people had their identities stolen in 2023. Fraudsters not only wipe out lifetimes of savings but also leave lasting emotional scars.

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Key takeaway: Removing exposed data reduces the attack surface and slashes the volume of scam attempts seniors face daily.

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Where does your parents' data hide online?

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Data brokers are companies that scrape the internet for personal information. They "aggregate, often analyze, and then sell this data to third parties such as private businesses, insurance companies, financial institutions, the government, and other data brokers," according to Incogni. People search sites compile this information into profiles that are either sold or published openly.

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These records fuel:

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• Robocalls and spam

• Phishing attempts

• Identity theft

• Physical safety risks when stalkers access addresses

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To reclaim privacy, families must learn how people sites work and how to ask them to stop selling information.

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Old devices and cloud back-ups

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Digital leftovers create hidden exposure:

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• Phones and computers: Before you trade in, sell, give away, or recycle a phone, remove all personal information.

• Cars: When you sell or donate a vehicle, personal data might be accessible to the next owner if you do not take steps to remove it.

• Cloud drives: Old backups often contain years of contacts, messages, and documents.

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How can families delete elderly parents' personal information online?

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Start with a full data scan to pinpoint every people search site and broker listing your parent. Then follow these steps:

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1. Audit exposures: Identify which sites hold your parent's data.

2. File opt-out or deletion requests: Contact each broker directly.

3. Set calendar reminders: Many records resurface within weeks.

4. Consider automated services: Most families choose a data removal service that monitors and removes data continuously.

5. Freeze credit: A credit freeze blocks anyone from opening new lines of credit or taking out a loan in the senior's name.

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After identity theft occurs, the FTC recommends contacting companies where fraud occurred, placing fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus, and reporting to local law enforcement.

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Manual opt-outs: why they rarely stick

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Do-it-yourself removals are labor intensive and seldom permanent.

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• You must learn how each people site works and submit individual requests.

• California's Delete Act, effective January 2026, will require data brokers to access a state deletion mechanism at least every 45 days because records constantly reappear.

• Without ongoing monitoring, data silently re-accumulates.

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Using automated data-removal services

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Automated services simplify the process:

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1. Sign up and submit information once. Cloaked, for example, lets you remove data from over 120 sources with a single submission.

2. Receive automated removal requests. Incogni sends "automated removal requests to all covered data brokers who may have your personal information," ensuring nothing is left behind.

3. Track progress through dashboards. Services provide regular privacy reports and monitoring loops.

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Which data removal service is best for seniors: Cloaked vs Incogni vs DeleteMe?

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Families seeking individual-centric protection should weigh coverage, pricing, and extras.

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Incogni provides the broadest broker coverage at the lowest cost, but it offers data removal only. DeleteMe delivers detailed quarterly PDF reports and covers the most sites, making it suitable for hands-on users. However, neither includes identity theft insurance or preventive tools.

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Cloaked combines data removal from 140+ brokers with unlimited email and phone aliases, AI-powered Call Guard for spam protection, dark web monitoring, and $1 million identity theft insurance underwritten by AIG. For seniors and their families seeking comprehensive protection in a single package, Cloaked delivers the strongest overall value.

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Locking things down after deletion

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Deletion is only the first step. Ongoing protection requires additional safeguards:

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• Two-factor authentication: The FTC advises protecting accounts with a strong password and turning on two-factor authentication. According to Cloaked, "Two-Factor Authentication, or 2FA, is an extra layer of security used to make sure that people trying to gain access to an online account are who they say they are."

• Password manager: Using unique passwords significantly reduces breach risk. Password managers store all credentials securely and use encryption to protect data.

• Credit freeze: A credit freeze blocks anyone from opening new lines of credit in your parent's name. Credit freezes and fraud alerts can help protect against identity theft.

• Automatic software updates: Criminals look for weak points to exploit. Turn on automatic updates for security software, browsers, and operating systems.

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What legal rights help you force data deletion?

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Several legal frameworks support data removal requests:

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• FOIA and Privacy Act: The Freedom of Information Act provides public access to federal records. The Privacy Act allows individuals to request notification, access, and amendment of records held by federal agencies.

• California Delete Act: Effective January 2026, this law requires the California Privacy Protection Agency to create an accessible deletion mechanism allowing consumers to direct all data brokers to delete personal information in a single request. Data brokers must register annually and undergo third-party audits starting January 2028.

• Enforcement actions: California has already fined data brokers for non-compliance. The CPPA ordered Jerico Pictures (National Public Data) to pay a $46,000 fine after a breach reportedly exposed 2.9 billion records, including names and Social Security numbers. ROR Partners, a Nevada-based marketing firm, was ordered to pay $56,600 in fines for failing to register.

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As Michael Macko, head of enforcement at CalPrivacy, stated: "Businesses need to take seriously the privacy risks of collecting personal information, especially when they use it for targeted advertising."

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Keeping the whole family on the same privacy page

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Family coordination ensures nothing slips through the cracks:

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• Shared accounts: Services like Atlas allow you to protect up to 5 family members on a single account. Cloaked offers family sharing capabilities under a single subscription.

• Progress dashboards: You can keep an eye on removal progress through dashboards and regular privacy reports.

• Renewal reminders: Set calendar alerts for annual subscription renewals and periodic manual checks.

• Communication scripts: Establish a simple routine for discussing privacy with elderly parents, such as monthly check-ins to review new accounts or unfamiliar emails.

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Bringing it all together

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Deleting elderly parents' personal information online requires a multi-step approach:

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1. Scan and identify exposures across data brokers and people search sites.

2. File removal requests manually or through automated services.

3. Freeze credit and enable two-factor authentication.

4. Monitor continuously because records resurface.

5. Coordinate with family to maintain consistent protection.

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Cloaked surfaces exposed personal information and initiates removal from over 120 data brokers. With $1 million identity theft insurance, unlimited aliases, and AI-powered spam blocking, it provides the simplest path for families seeking comprehensive protection. Cloaked also provides insurance coverage so you are never financially at risk.

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For families ready to act, Cloaked's data removal service offers a streamlined way to protect seniors while giving everyone peace of mind.

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