this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2025
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Privacy

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Incogni has great advertising claims, but it feels pretty expensive as an ongoing subscription. Have you used it or do you currently use it? Please tell me about it.

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[–] anon@lemmus.org 1 points 2 hours ago

EasyOptOuts.com is cheaper and just as effective. Ben, the developer behind it, is very responsive. The biggest change I've noticed is that my physical spam mail, such as credit card offers, etc., have decreased to almost none in less than the six months I've been with them.

It's well worth the $20 per year.

I wouldn't use any of such "data removal" services. Sounds like the Honey Scam all over again.

(Btw, the Honey browser extention/addon is a scam if you somehow didn't already know by now)

[–] impudentmortal@lemmy.world 9 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

This is all anecdotal but I signed up for the icogni family plan since my parents are boomers who are seriously tech illiterate. After signing up, it seems like I've gotten more scam texts and calls, at least initially. I even got a scam letter twice from the same scam. So I would just save your money.

It's possible that they are doing what they advertise and getting your name off databases but maybe the act of requesting that makes those companies send out your info to another data broker.

[–] irotsoma@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 13 hours ago

I think it's similar to the idea of clicking on the unsubscribe links on spam email. It lets the spammer know it's a real, active address, so, often, it just ends up giving you more spam since they share that info. Only unsubscribe from things you actually subscribed to in the first place.

[–] trailee@sh.itjust.works 2 points 16 hours ago

This is a very helpful anecdote, thanks!

[–] lazycat@lemmy.ml 12 points 23 hours ago

I hate the whole "privacy as a service" concept. So I avoid them.

[–] Viri4thus@feddit.org 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Is it advertised on youtube? If yes, it's a scam.

[–] madame_gaymes@programming.dev 2 points 13 hours ago

alternative question to ask: is it advertised by an "influencer"? If yes, it's a scam.

[–] umami_wasbi@lemmy.ml 2 points 16 hours ago

Being privacy consious and the act of requesting to had your info removed is just put you on their radar as "normies" doesn't care.

[–] JustJack23@slrpnk.net 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It sounds fishy to me tbh, I may be wrong but I also will not be surprised if something like the deal with honey comes out in a few years.

[–] breadcat@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago (2 children)

the thing with honey was fishy because they didn't have an obvious monetization plan, it was just a free extension. incogni has a subscription plan and its also an established business model so idk probably alright

[–] Goun@lemmy.ml 3 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Fair, but what happens if you stop paying? Is it possible for them to add a second subscription price like what we're seeing on streaming platforms?

I don't really know a lot about them, but sounds like something I'd stay away from.

[–] breadcat@sh.itjust.works 1 points 22 hours ago

they will stop contacting data brokers to remove your data when your subscription runs out. and I guess they could? not sure what it would pay for, but there's also other companies that provide the same service as them so you could swap

[–] JustJack23@slrpnk.net 1 points 20 hours ago

I hope you are correct.

[–] daytonah@lemmy.ml 3 points 20 hours ago

How do you ask any company to delete your data? Give them your id document?

[–] foremanguy92_@lemmy.ml 5 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

I don't understand how this could not be a scam. In which cases they would successfully remove datas from data brockers?

[–] breadcat@sh.itjust.works 2 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

data brokers legally have to comply with removal requests, but there's thousands of them and they make it difficult to do. incognis service is that they just do it for you

[–] foremanguy92_@lemmy.ml 2 points 22 hours ago

Legally they have to, but in reality they almost don't have really the right to hold and collect them so it would be impossible to remove data from them AND even they said they have removed it.. Who can prove that it is true?