intelius com
Ever wondered who keeps a running tab on public info about you—and makes it searchable in seconds? That’s Intelius. A background check engine dressed as a people search site, it’s both powerful and controversial.
Intelius.com is a data-hunting tool that scrapes public records and serves them to anyone curious enough to search. Want to find an old classmate? Or check out your Tinder date’s criminal history? That’s what it’s for. It’s not free, and the data isn’t always perfect, but it can be surprisingly thorough—and a little unsettling.
What Intelius Actually Does
At its core, Intelius is a people search engine. Pop in a name, and it churns through public records—court documents, addresses, phone listings, maybe even property details—and builds a profile. It’s fast. It’s quiet. And it can tell you a lot without the person ever knowing.
It doesn't stop there. There’s reverse phone lookup for when some random number won’t stop calling. A background check option that dives deeper. Address history, property info, even potential relatives and associates. It’s like a digital dossier factory.
This kind of tool is built on the messy reality that tons of public info is out there if you know where to look. Intelius just makes it stupidly easy to look.
Why People Use It
Dating apps are a big one. When someone’s too perfect on Hinge or Bumble, a quick Intelius search can be a gut check. No last name? Doesn’t matter. A city and first name often get you close enough to piece things together. Sometimes too close.
Old friends or family searches come up a lot too. Think "I wonder what ever happened to Matt from high school" or “Does my half-sister still live in Denver?” You'd be surprised what shows up.
And then there’s the sketchy phone number mystery. Is it a scam call? A recruiter? Someone from an old job? Reverse phone lookup can give you a name, city, sometimes even their address. No more guessing.
Where the Data Comes From
Public records. Think court filings, property deeds, phone directories, business registrations, and similar databases. Stuff that’s technically available to anyone but practically buried unless you’re a detective or very bored.
That’s the key—Intelius doesn’t invent anything. It surfaces things you could technically find yourself, but with way less hassle. Like putting a giant magnet over a haystack instead of digging for needles one at a time.
What's It Cost?
It’s not free. The homepage might feel like it is, but you’ll hit a paywall fast.
They usually offer a cheap trial—something like $0.95 or $3.99 for a few days. After that, it jumps to a monthly membership. Depending on the depth of reports and access frequency, it can land anywhere between $19.95 and $29.95 a month.
And yes, if you forget to cancel the trial, they’ll charge you. This is a recurring complaint in reviews—folks who didn’t realize they were signing up for a subscription.
How Accurate Is It?
Mixed bag. Sometimes you hit gold. You get a full address history, up-to-date phone numbers, even relatives you forgot existed.
Other times, it’s off. Wrong middle names, outdated contact info, or associates who haven’t been in your life since 2009. That’s the thing about public records—they’re not curated or corrected. They just are.
If the person has a common name or no digital breadcrumbs, it gets messy. Searching “John Smith” in Los Angeles? Good luck. But for someone a bit more unique or with more public records tied to them, it can be scary accurate.
Is It Legal?
Yes. It’s perfectly legal. Public records are fair game in the U.S., and Intelius makes use of them.
But legal doesn’t mean ethical. Just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should. There’s a reason people have mixed feelings about this stuff—it blurs the line between safety and snooping.
Can You Remove Yourself from Intelius?
Technically, yes. But it's tedious.
You’ll have to find your profile, go through their opt-out form, verify your email, and wait a week or two for the deletion to process. Even then, there’s no guarantee it won’t come back if your info reappears in public sources.
Third-party tools like DeleteMe or OneRep exist to help automate this, but they cost money. And you’ll need to repeat the process across other sites too—Intelius isn’t the only one doing this.
The App Experience
Intelius isn’t just web-based. Their Android app is surprisingly good. Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Google Play, it makes searching from a phone super convenient. Tap a name, get a result. Great for quick lookups during conversations or last-minute checks before a meeting.
That said, you still run into the same paywalls and subscription prompts. Mobile doesn’t mean free.
Reviews and Public Perception
User reviews paint a split picture.
People who get valuable info praise it—especially if it helps them avoid a scam or reconnect with someone.
But there’s a lot of noise about billing issues, hard-to-cancel subscriptions, and data that feels incomplete or outdated.
Trustpilot gives it a 2.9/5 rating. That’s not awful, but it’s not a glowing endorsement either.
Competitors and Alternatives
Intelius isn’t the only player in this game. It goes up against others like Spokeo, BeenVerified, TruthFinder, and PeopleFinders. All of them offer overlapping services. Some lean more into criminal data. Others into social profiles or contact info.
In general, Intelius feels like the well-rounded option—good enough at everything but not the best at any one thing.
When It’s Useful—and When It’s Not
If you’re trying to learn more about someone you already have a few clues about—say a full name and city—Intelius is effective.
But if you’re looking for super-specific intel on someone with a generic name or no digital footprint, you might end up disappointed.
Also, don’t expect deep insights like employment history or education from every report. The depth really varies based on what’s publicly tied to that person.
Bottom Line
Intelius is like a digital detective toolkit. When it works, it works well. But it’s not magic. It scrapes what’s already out there, packages it nicely, and sells it.
Use it for what it is—a tool to confirm things you suspect or fill in gaps. Don’t expect it to do the impossible. And if your own info is on there? Opt out. At least try. Because someone else might be searching too.
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