In the age of digital surveillance and other identity theft practices, many people find themselves asking “Is Spokeo Legit?” As parents, we use social media and worry how we protect our kids from the stories we hear about the predator on the internet or identity theft. Moreover, things get even more complicated when you introduce platforms like Spokeo into the mix. So, let me explain to you more about what Spokeo is, how it works, and whether it is as useful as the company claims.
What makes Spokeo legit?
Currently, the Spokeo app is presented as a powerful people-search tool. You type in someone’s name, or their phone number, or their email and out they come! The app proclaims to find anything starting from the person’s address to the person’s social media accounts.
But what helps this site to receive its “legit” tag?
- Data Accessibility: It centralizes public information. Handy, right?
- Ease of Use: The interface is fairly straightforward allowing for easy operation by novices. No tech skills? No problem.
- Affordable Plans: Costs less than a cup of coffee, while offering you access to as many searches as you desire?
The Spokeo app does a particularly good job of ambienting detective-like functionality for any parent out there. But is it as lovely as all those forums and reviews make it to be?
What is Spokeo and how does it operate?
This is a crime buster in the genres of the current society. It collects public records from sources like:
- Social media platforms
- Phone directories
- Court documents
- Marketing databases
This information is coalesced to produce an overall account. If you could have Sherlock Holmes in your pocket with less of the British stereotype. But here’s the catch: This means that Spokeo does not create new data. Oh it just links to what others have and most of the time it is full of garbage.
Types of information Spokeo
In fact, it is more like a box of goodies but instead of gold and other treasures being stored there, what you get is information. However, if you decide to run a search on Spokeo, you will be amazed by the number of options that you can get in detail, like:
- Basic Details: This comprises a person’s full names, age and number as well as members of their immediate family. It is a good technique to validate identities or to check his or her relatives’ statuses within the family.
- Contact Information: This is especially helpful if you are attempting to get back in touch with someone or to check if the phone number or email address is authentic.
- Location History: If you want to know for example the house or apartment of a given individual. Spokeo can get you the address history that is both the current and the previous addresses.
- Social Media Profiles: If the person has ever created a social media account that is public then Spokeo might compile some of them. It will make you understand what they like doing in their spare time, what they think about or even how they use the social platform.
- Criminal Records: For many users this will be considered as one of the most important features or, possibly, the most important one. Spokeo can even show court records, arrest records and many other legal actions so you can have better insight of someone.
- Employment and Education: At some point, Spokeo can go further and give information of where the person works or studied with reference to the records available.
Summing up, the main advantage of the Spokeo can be considered the information creation with detailed and categorized data. Just remember to come at its findings with healthy skepticism.
Is Spokeo legit to use?
Okay, let’s get serious. Is Spokeo safe as a service? Spokeo search looks and feels comprehensive, but how reliable is it?
Who said online safety can’t be comprehensive?
Pros of Spokeo Search:
- Verified Public Data: This information is obtained from real records, records which are available to the public.
- Convenience: Helps avoid spending hours searching for the information.
- Variety: It can track from a long-lost cousin to a suspicious new neighbor in your neighborhood.
Cons of Spokeo Search:
- Accuracy Varies: Some of the info can be not only outdated but not contain all the necessary information either..
Spokeo legit concerns: Safety and privacy issues
Let’s address the elephant in the room: is Spokeo safe? Or is it a Pandora’s box of privacy breaches?
Safety Concerns:
- Data Breaches: Can the Spokeo database be hacked? In theory, yes.
- Misuse of Information: What’s preventing a person from using Spokeo to track your movements?
Privacy Issues:
- User Information Handling: Spokeo people search tool retains the search that you have conducted and your preferences. Creepy, right?
- Opt-Out Hassles: You can remove your info, but it isn’t immediate or simple.
However, if applied properly, Spokeo is safe. But it’s like fire—you can benefit from it, of course, but if you are careless, you will get burned.
How reliable is Spokeo for conducting background checks?
While Spokeo may be used to gather information for background check, service’s efficiency depends on the expectations. Now let us break down its reliability from such perspectives.
Strengths of Spokeo
In particular, Spokeo is helpful when it comes to synthesizing as many records as possible into the briefest report. A capability to extract data from various sources including social media, Court records, and marketing databases puts it with a strong advantage. As for the more ordinary citizen, it signifies you can usually find the answer you seek without having to hire a PI.
- Criminal Records: The criminal history is one of the most advantageous aspects of Spokeo. This is a very important factor especially to parents who are considering a new babysitter or a housekeeper.
- Address Histories: Looking for information about someone’s past residence? A dependable timeline of past residence can be presented by Spokeo.
- Social Media Insight: Thus, pulling off public social media profiles, Spokeo gives a sneak peek into a person’s behavior.
For these purposes, Spokeo does come in handy. It is the best way to go as a starting point of gathering background information on the target people.
Weaknesses of Spokeo
Sadly, it is not entirely accurate as is shown above. However, on account of the information it employs being at times out of date or only partial, its reliability is not always constant. If for instance a person has just moved or changed their number or their name, then what Speko appears on the internet may not be up to date.
- Data Accuracy: In this case, Spokeo bases its search on public records, then its reliability only depends on those records. Humans can make mistakes and records can become old and sometimes they will give out wrong information.
- Limited International Coverage: Spokeo is good for searching people in the United States but the problem is the data they have on international searches. If the person you’re researching lives in another country, then you may be stuck.
Under which circumstances should Spoke o be used for background checks?
Spokeo will be of great use for a person who wants to do general or initial investigation on his/her subject of interest. It’s not aimed as a tool to get real professional services, but it is helpful for parents who once in a while require having an overview of someone’s background record. Whether you are employing a tutor, considering a potential flatmate or just trying to get more information about someone you met online then Spokeo might be useful.
How does Spokeo legit handle user information?
Spokeo handles data with certain care. Still, it does not guarantee that no data will be compromised.
- Encryption: Your payment details are safe, what about browsing information? Not so much.
- Transparency: This company offers an opt-out option, but it isn’t perfect.
- User Control: Of course, Spokeo doesn’t allow the user to edit the third-party data that Spokeo possesses, which means the bad information will linger.
In conclusion, thus, Spokeo’s legit efforts on data handling are decent though it disclosed that improvements wouldn’t harm.
7 Best Spokeo legit alternatives
Curious to find out if there is life after Spokeo? Now let’s look at the seven best Spokeo alternatives.
Service | Prices | Features | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spokeo | $13/mo | People search and criminal records | Reasonable pricing and easy to use | Accuracy issues |
Intelius | $19.95/mo | Reverse phone and email lookups | Reliable and detailed data | Somewhat expensive |
BeenVerified | $26.89/mo | Public records and vehicle ownership | Extensive data availability | Hard to use |
TruthFinder | $28/mo | Dark web scans and relatives data | Detailed privacy features | Not Budget Friendly |
PeopleFinders | $24.95/mo | Address histories and background checks | Simple interface for beginners | Limited features |
Instant Checkmate | $35/mo | Criminal history and contract information | Comprehensive Database | Complex interface |
Whitepages | $19.99/mo | Phone number and property information | Free tiers also available | Outdated UI |
Pipl | Variable according to needs | Deep web searches | Advanced search features | For professional users |
Advantages of Spokeo:
- Affordable as compared to rivals.
- For some individuals with little expertise in navigating the Internet, it is easy to do so with this site.
- Provides acceptable amounts of data which save users when they want to find information.
Using Spokeo legit responsibly to ensure child safety online
As useful as Spokeo may be for gathering information, you still need to ask “is Spokeo safe?” Luckily, other applications such as Parental control tools like FlashGet Kids are great to ensure complete safety of the kid. These enable parents in many dimensions.
Most Important Characteristics of FlashGet Kids
- Monitoring Online Activity: You’ll be able to access real time data with screen mirroring and remote snapshots to check your child’s online activity.
- Content Filtering: To avoid your child access to naked photos, videos or even intimacy sites, block those sites or applications.
- Screen Time Management: Limit how much time your child can spend on their phone browser, social media, and any other app that might expose their data.
- Location Tracking: You will also be able to track the location of your kids at all times through real time GPS tracking and Geofencing in FlashGet Kids
- Alerts and Notifications: Get notifications immediately if there is any malicious or wrongful act taken by or against your kid.
Why is it crucial to include Spokeo with Parental Control Apps?
Spokeo assists to investigate the persons who may have contact with your family, yet it doesn’t track your child’s web activity. When used with a program like FlashGet Kids, it will allow parents to give children the internet in a safer manner. Combined with one another, all these tools provide one with a holistic way of protecting one’s family.
Therefore, Spokeo is a great tool to use when one needs to do a background check. However, parental control apps are vital for constant monitoring of one’s children’s activity online.
Conclusion
So, is Spokeo legit? The answer is mostly “yes.” Of course, it has its drawbacks but due to its relatively low cost and ease of use it is still a valuable instrument in your toolbox. With apps like FlashGet Kids to monitor kids and other safety measures, Spokeo will assist in the protection of your dear ones.
People also ask
Spokeo obtains data from user’s social networking sites, court records, and telephone directories.
Currently, the available plans standalone options begin at $13/month including a number of searches as they desire.
Yes, but it is not immediate or thorough. You can find instructions on how to opt-out, according to the webpage on their official platform. Some information that it gets from third-party platforms will still linger on it.