As an Optery customer, why am I getting emails from data brokers?

When Might a Data Broker Contact Me Directly?

It may seem counterintuitive to hear from a data broker after Optery has sent a request on your behalf. In most cases, this is a normal part of the data broker’s opt-out or deletion process. Optery submits requests as your Authorized Agent, meaning you have authorized Optery to act on your behalf. Some data brokers may still contact you directly for one of these reasons:

1. Identity Verification: To confirm they are acting on the correct person’s record.
2. Authorization Check: To confirm that you authorized Optery to submit requests for you.
3. Status Confirmation / Suppression vs. Erasure Clarification: To inform you that action has been taken on your request or to ask whether you want them to keep a limited internal record that prevents your information from being shown again, or fully erase the record.

These checks should be reasonable and limited to what is needed. Depending on the state law and the type of request, a data broker may be allowed to ask for enough information to verify your identity, confirm Optery’s authority, or confirm how you want the request processed.

How to Respond: The “Reasonableness” Test

Before providing more information, ask yourself:

• Is this request limited to confirming my identity, confirming Optery’s authority, or confirming how I want the broker to process my request?
• Does the broker already have enough information to match my record?
• Is the broker asking for information that is more sensitive than the information it appears to have about me?
• Is there a less sensitive way to confirm my identity or authorization?
• Is the broker offering suppression instead of full erasure?
• Has the broker explained why it needs the information or confirmation?

The Simple Confirmation (Recommended)

If the data broker only asks you to click a confirmation link or reply by email, we generally recommend responding promptly. This helps the broker process the request without delay. You can use this response:

“I confirm my identity and verify that Optery is authorized to act as my Authorized Agent for this and all future opt-out and deletion requests.”

If the Broker Says Your Information Was Suppressed, Not Deleted

Some data brokers may respond by saying they have not fully erased your information, but have instead kept a limited internal record so your information will not be shown to their customers. This can be a good outcome. If a broker fully erases every record, it may lose the internal marker that tells it not to display your information if it later receives your information again from another source. If your goal is to keep your information out of the broker’s products and customer-facing databases, suppression is often the better practical choice. You can respond:

“Please keep my personal information suppressed and unavailable to your customers. I do not want my information sold, shared, disclosed, licensed, or otherwise made available through your products or services. I confirm that Optery is my Authorized Agent for this and future requests. Please communicate only with Optery, and do not contact me directly.”

The Sensitive Information Pause

Pause before sending sensitive information, especially:

• Social Security number
• Photo of a driver’s license
• Passport
• Financial account information
• Biometric information
• Any document that does not seem related to the broker’s record about you

Some data brokers may have legitimate verification procedures. However, privacy laws generally expect verification to be reasonable and limited to what is needed. If the broker asks for sensitive information, you can ask whether a less sensitive confirmation method is available.

How to Challenge or Clarify the Request

If a data broker asks for sensitive documents or information that seems excessive, you can send this response:

“I am exercising my privacy rights and confirming that Optery is authorized to act as my Authorized Agent for this request. I decline to provide [SSN/ID photo/passport] unless you can explain why this specific information is reasonably necessary to verify my identity or confirm authorization. Please identify what information you already have that is insufficient for verification, whether a less sensitive alternative is available, how any verification information will be used and protected, and when it will be deleted. Please continue processing my request if the information already provided is sufficient.”

When to Contact Optery

Forward the broker’s email to Optery Support if:

• The broker asks for sensitive information.
• The request seems unrelated to your opt-out or deletion request.
• The broker says it will not honor Optery’s request.
• The broker asks you to choose between suppression and erasure and you are unsure how to respond.
• You are unsure whether the email is legitimate.

We can help you assess the request and decide whether a simple confirmation, a suppression confirmation, a clarification response, or another step makes sense.

Updated on: 27/05/2026