Exposed: BeenVerified

BeenVerified is a major consumer people search platform that markets background checks to everyday consumers, normalizing the act of looking up detailed personal information about neighbors, dates, colleagues, and strangers. The company aggregates billions of records from public databases, court systems, property records, social media, and commercial data sources into comprehensive reports that include criminal histories, address timelines, phone numbers, email addresses, known associates, and financial indicators. BeenVerified and its parent company operate several people search brands including PeopleSmart, NumberGuru, and NeighborWho, creating a network of data broker sites that share the same underlying database. The company has faced criticism for publishing inaccurate information that has led to wrongful employment denials, housing discrimination, and social stigma. Despite marketing itself as a tool for personal safety and informed decision-making, BeenVerified primarily profits from enabling surveillance of private citizens by other private citizens at scale, contributing to a culture where personal privacy is treated as a purchasable commodity.