Protecting your privacy and safety

[thepoopologist]

I work in an unfortunate setting and I was wondering if I could discuss some of the things I've done so far in removing unwanted information from the internet since I'm not well practiced in it.

1. Googled, Binged, Yahoo'd my name, identified any of the directories that had accurate information on me, and submitted opt out requests

2. Deleted my linkedin profile

3. Vandalized my doximity profile

4. Facebook profile can't be searched (still need it to keep in contact with some friends)

Next level stuff I'm considering

5. There's a service that's provided at work that makes my license plate unsearchable

6. Getting a PO box "address" and sending all mail there, tax returns will go here, DMV mailing address will go here, medical license mailing address will go here

7. When I save for a home, buying it under a corporation


Any other ideas? Thanks.

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[darknecrosforte]

Justdelete.me is a good site that consists of a ton of links to common programs and services that collect your data and allows you to delete the ones you are aware of (like craigslist or battle.net)

 

[TexasPhysician]

Just my opinion:

In this age, it is virtually impossible to stay hidden with the possible exception of having a 100% off grid home in someone else’s name. A motivated individual will find you. If you are just trying to stay hidden from the barely motivated at all folks, I think finishing your list is reasonable, but having the home owned by a Corp is a necessity. If the home is in your name, you are wasting your time with everything else in my opinion.

If home safety is a true priority, a shotgun and a trained German Shepherd are more effective. Instead of avoiding intruders, you could welcome them properly. 🙂

 

[Sushirolls]

Voter registration in some states is searchable and fuels the online database.

Home security system. Cameras for home security system. Gated community if possible for home if appropriate.

Second the german shepard and shotgun plan.

There will always be some risk you can't mitigate.

I've stopped counting my death threats. Think there are 1-2 restraining orders out there too.

 

[NickNaylor]

My self-protection plan involves having a firearm in my car and one in my nightstand.

I will happily absorb all threats of "I'm gunna kill you Dr. Naylor" at work all day long, but as soon as you approach me outside of the clinical setting, my "patient-centered approach" ends and "get the **** away from me" begins.

 

[Monkey House]

Remove yourself from 100% Free People Search - TruePeopleSearch.com. This site has no paywall and a lot of information that you probably don't want to be so accessible.

 

[ryerica22]

Just my opinion:

In this age, it is virtually impossible to stay hidden with the possible exception of having a 100% off grid home in someone else’s name. A motivated individual will find you. If you are just trying to stay hidden from the barely motivated at all folks, I think finishing your list is reasonable, but having the home owned by a Corp is a necessity. If the home is in your name, you are wasting your time with everything else in my opinion.

If home safety is a true priority, a shotgun and a trained German Shepherd are more effective. Instead of avoiding intruders, you could welcome them properly. 🙂

A pit bull is more fierce in my experience.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

Like others have said, nothing beats having your good friends Smith and Wesson ready to say hello to any uninvited guests.

Also like others have said, a dog is one of the best alarm systems you can get (as long as it's a protective/barking breed). My dog barks at the damn neighbors closing the car door next door but he definitely goes wild whenever someone touches the front door.

I think you're doing the right thing online, except rather than delete your linkedin profile, I would have a linkedin profile with information that's readily available (like you work at such and such hospital which patients will already know anyway) and make all the info private. You want to be able to control your online persona, which is why I say to err on the side of keeping all your online profiles but just locking them down (making all the settings private except friends usually, not searchable, etc.). Employers tend to look at this kind of stuff every now and then, so it's better to have some controlled profile you can point to rather than taking the chance someone else tries to claim your doximity profile for instance and does stupid crap with it (which is exactly what the type of people you're trying to avoid might do).

Make sure the addresses you put down for your NPI and (if possible) for your medical license are work addresses, NOT personal addresses as those are easily searchable.

 

[thepoopologist]

Did another search of my name today and lo and behold another directory has my name and relatives listed, and my actual home address, probably the first time I've seen my home address listed. Went through their opt-out procedure.

 

[birchswing]

Not sure the corporation thing helps. Pretty sure that's all public info.

I found out about this in a round-about way. Looked up a doctor's payments taken from pharmaceuticals (Dollars for Docs) and even though I searched the doctor's name, the site listed payments they had taken to both LLCs and foreign corporations and listed those corporations' names. Looked up the LLCs on the state corporation commission site and all the corporations were listed with the doctor's name and address (I had no interest in the latter but was curious if this doctor really owned all these companies). But I just checked and I was also able to find about half of those same corporations just using the doctor's name on the SCC site. Some that were on Dollars for Docs didn't show up by name search on SCC, though. Probably depends on how it's set up.

 

[watto]

Not sure the corporation thing helps. Pretty sure that's all public info.

I found out about this in a round-about way. Looked up a doctor's payments taken from pharmaceuticals (Dollars for Docs) and even though I searched the doctor's name, the site listed payments they had taken to both LLCs and foreign corporations and listed those corporations' names. Looked up the LLCs on the state corporation commission site and all the corporations were listed with the doctor's name and address (I had no interest in the latter but was curious if this doctor really owned all these companies). But I just checked and I was also able to find about half of those same corporations just using the doctor's name on the SCC site. Some that were on Dollars for Docs didn't show up by name search on SCC, though. Probably depends on how it's set up.

It's different in every state, but in the one I am using, you set up two LLCs, with one owning the other. There is a service that will act as both your Executor and Registered Agent, therefore you can opt out of having your name anywhere in the public record. Ownership of the LLCs is listed in the Ownership Agreements, which is not public record. One of the LLCs buys the house.

 

[Monocles]

My self-protection plan involves having a firearm in my car and one in my nightstand.

I will happily absorb all threats of "I'm gunna kill you Dr. Naylor" at work all day long, but as soon as you approach me outside of the clinical setting, my "patient-centered approach" ends and "get the **** away from me" begins.

Whoaaa that's intense man. Have you ever been threatened in a situation outside of work that would make you consider using the firearm? Not judging at all just curious...

 

[puahate]

Buy some mines

 

[thepoopologist]

Did my usual semi-regular searches of my name.

Yet another different directory that lists my name, my relatives, my profession and work address, and a list of every social profile with my name on it

Went through another opt out.

Also a previous medical license was attached to a home address, the medical board obliged me by changing it to something else.

 

[hallowmann]

Did my usual semi-regular searches of my name.

Yet another different directory that lists my name, my relatives, my profession and work address, and a list of every social profile with my name on it

Went through another opt out.

Also a previous medical license was attached to a home address, the medical board obliged me by changing it to something else.

Every time you post on this it reminds me to do the same. Opted out of 2 more sites thanks to your post.

 

[d2305]

Most states have property owners listed readily available online.

 

[birchswing]

Most states have property owners listed readily available online.

Just buy lots of houses so no one ever knows which one you're at. JK.

From up above in the thread:

It's different in every state, but in the one I am using, you set up two LLCs, with one owning the other. There is a service that will act as both your Executor and Registered Agent, therefore you can opt out of having your name anywhere in the public record. Ownership of the LLCs is listed in the Ownership Agreements, which is not public record. One of the LLCs buys the house.

 

[Nines]

Companies exist that claim that they will scan a lot of these websites with public information and do the opt outs for you (I think DeleteMe has such a service), for a hefty fee of course. I've thought about trying one of them them but was a bit skeptical at how useful they could be. Anyone have any experience with using a service like this?

 

[Merovinge]

You can also look into getting a land trust. These are doable in every state and hide ownership to a degree. The trust owns the property and you can have your taxes sent to the attorney or whoever manages the trust who then forwards it to you, so there's no paper trail in the public record. When I check my places property tax and ownership information on a site, there's no mention of our real names. It's surprisingly affordable (Our is ~$125 a year, a few hundred to set up). This isn't perfect and doesn't offer much if any asset protection, unlike an LLC, and online banks don't generally know how to do it so you may not be able to use a loandepot or other low cost internet based mortgage provider, but is a bit simple and cheaper than an LLC. Or you can go old school and have the property taxes and anything requiring an address sent to a PO box.

Thanks so much for this, I'm going to look into doing this for a new house purchase likely in 2021 thanks to your tip!

 

[TexasPhysician]

Thanks so much for this, I'm going to look into doing this for a new house purchase likely in 2021 thanks to your tip!

In Texas, a primary residence has full protection from lawsuits/collections. Using a trust would effect this negatively, so I wouldn’t recommend it.

Given enough motivation, anyone can figure out where you live within about 72 hours.

Hiding ownership of your home and paying online companies to hide your data can move it from minutes to hours.

If you work in-person anywhere, someone can tail you home after work. Googling your name may give someone your old wedding announcement information. Now you need to work on hiding your spouse’s data, in-laws, parents, etc. It is incredibly hard to make yourself difficult to find in this day and age.

Personally, I don’t worry about the address. An alarm system, dog, personal firearms, etc are a better investment. That said, I’ve yet to meet a psychiatrist that has been assaulted outside of the workplace. That is the biggest place of risk.

 

[Crayola227]

In Texas, a primary residence has full protection from lawsuits/collections. Using a trust would effect this negatively, so I wouldn’t recommend it.

Given enough motivation, anyone can figure out where you live within about 72 hours.

Hiding ownership of your home and paying online companies to hide your data can move it from minutes to hours.

If you work in-person anywhere, someone can tail you home after work. Googling your name may give someone your old wedding announcement information. Now you need to work on hiding your spouse’s data, in-laws, parents, etc. It is incredibly hard to make yourself difficult to find in this day and age.

Personally, I don’t worry about the address. An alarm system, dog, personal firearms, etc are a better investment. That said, I’ve yet to meet a psychiatrist that has been assaulted outside of the workplace. That is the biggest place of risk.

I kind of agree, I will say that if it's as easy as contacting websites etc to remove your address etc, that's probably worth doing. Don't have to make it as easy as a Google seach to find your residence or home phone. OTOH it's not worth giving up the legal protections on your home.

Some trusts can be set up that you retain right to reside and some other things that would prevent you from being evicted if legal action happened, but that bit of trust, foreclosure, and eviction law you want to run by a very good attorney first.

 

[d2305]

My alarm

 

[PsyDr]

With all due respect, @TexasPhysician is partially incorrect. An outside party cannot sue a trust that was created in good faith. Unlike an LLC, one does not have have "ownership" of a trust or its assets. You simply benefits from a trust. Conceptually, it's not wholly unlike your grandmother who sends you a check in the mail for your birthday. You might be able to count on her money, but no medmal attorney would claim that her assets are on the line.

This is actually a key point of interest in the Epstein civil suits. Also why Maxwell correctly said she had no idea who owned the property she was in.

 

[TexasPhysician]

With all due respect, @TexasPhysician is partially incorrect. An outside party cannot sue a trust that was created in good faith. Unlike an LLC, one does not have have "ownership" of a trust or its assets. You simply benefits from a trust. Conceptually, it's not wholly unlike your grandmother who sends you a check in the mail for your birthday. You might be able to count on her money, but no medmal attorney would claim that her assets are on the line.

This is actually a key point of interest in the Epstein civil suits. Also why Maxwell correctly said she had no idea who owned the property she was in.

There are different types of trusts with different levels of pros/cons. A revocable living trust is commonly pierced by attorneys in my family.

Irrevocable trusts are more rigid. There are more asset protection strategies, but there is also a lack of control.

In my state, a personal home is off limits to creditors. A revocable trust isn’t.

 

[Crayola227]

With all due respect, @TexasPhysician is partially incorrect. An outside party cannot sue a trust that was created in good faith. Unlike an LLC, one does not have have "ownership" of a trust or its assets. You simply benefits from a trust. Conceptually, it's not wholly unlike your grandmother who sends you a check in the mail for your birthday. You might be able to count on her money, but no medmal attorney would claim that her assets are on the line.

This is actually a key point of interest in the Epstein civil suits. Also why Maxwell correctly said she had no idea who owned the property she was in.

This is mostly correct.

OTOH, say that a trust owns a piece of property that later is found to need toxic cleanup because it was an improperly ran mine. The trust could be liable for clean up costs, and this could come out of what the beneficiaries would otherwise have been disbursed. Now, if you can show that the trustee is legally liable, ie they mismanaged things leading to the expenses, then you could come after the trustee for the money. Like any lawsuit, the success of actually obtaining a judgment is not just whether or not a court issues one, but is also related to whether or not the person is even "good" for it ie has financial assets or wage you can garnish.

This was a real-life example my own estate planning attorney gave me just last month when I saw him.

If the trust owns a property, and someone twists their ankle in a pothole in the yard or gets attacked by your "guard" dog, then there may be some liability for the owner of the property. Good homeowner's insurance that also covers the pet is essential. In my example it's not clear to me how much the trustee vs the trust has liability. Lack of maintenance leading to pothole might be on the trustee if they are responsible for maintaining the trust property. As far as the dog, it might be against the trust itself for allowing the occupant with the dog.

A trust can still have liability is my point. Otoh, if a trust owns your property, it would not be able to be sued for your PERSONSAL liabilities or business debt - ie if you are personally sued, malpractice, credit card debt, etc.

Keep in mind that any debt you have BEFORE setting up a trust, like student loans, can create an issue for a transfer into a trust if the debt isn't paid before you die.

I would highly, highly recommend getting with a very good estate planning attorney regarding all of this. You need to be careful how a trust owns your residence so that you are still free to buy/sell/reside/make improvements, and some of this can impact long term care planning and qualifying for medicaid for long term care (so now this gets to long term care planning). Remember, anyone can get into an accident or have some sort of CVA and end up needing long term care. All of this can be a bit more complicated as you plan with a spouse or want to leave an inheritance. Plus tax issues.

In no way do I mean to discourage the use of a trust for asset protection (in this case we're really talking about an irrevocable trust, those are the ones that offer these protections) but they are irrevocable. The issues are complex. Get a good estate attorney that can handle complex elder law/long term care planning issues/inheritance, and an accountant.

 

[d2305]

Trusts are designed to avoid probate.