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January feels like a reset. A new calendar. New goals. New habits. While you clean out your inbox, organize paperwork or set resolutions, however, scammers also hit reset, and they start with your personal data.
That is because January is one of the most important months for online privacy. This is when data brokers refresh profiles and scammers rebuild their target lists.
As a result, the longer your information stays online, the more complete and valuable your profile becomes. To help address this, institutions like the U.S. Department of the Treasury have released advisories urging people to stay vigilant and avoid data-related scams.
For that reason, taking action early in the year can significantly reduce scam attempts, lower identity theft risks, and limit unwanted exposure for the rest of the year.
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January is when data brokers refresh profiles and scammers rebuild target lists, making early action critical for online privacy. (iStock)
STOP DATA BROKERS FROM SELLING YOUR INFORMATION ONLINE
Why personal data does not expire and keeps compounding online
Many people assume old information eventually becomes useless. Unfortunately, that’s not how data brokers work.
Data brokers don’t just store a snapshot of who you are today. They build living profiles that grow over time, pulling from:
- Public records (property sales, court filings, voter registrations)
- Retail purchases and loyalty programs
- App usage and location data
- Past addresses, phone numbers, and relatives
- Marketing databases and online activity.
Each year adds another layer. A new address. A changed phone number. A family connection. A retirement milestone. On its own, one data point doesn’t mean much. But together, they create a detailed identity profile that scammers can use to convincingly impersonate you. That’s why waiting makes things worse, not better.
Why scammers ‘rebuild’ targets at the start of the year
Scammers don’t randomly target people. They work from lists. At the beginning of the year, those lists get refreshed.
Why January matters so much:
- Data brokers update and resell profiles after year-end records close
- New public filings from the previous year become searchable
- Marketing databases reset campaigns and audience segments
- Scam networks repackage data into “fresh” target lists.
Think of it like the upcoming spring cleaning, except it’s criminals organizing identities to exploit for the next 12 months.
If your data is still widely exposed in January, you’re far more likely to:
Once your profile is flagged as responsive or profitable, it often stays in circulation.
As personal information accumulates across databases, digital profiles grow more detailed and more valuable to scammers over time. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why taking action in January protects you all year long
Removing your data early isn’t just about stopping scams today; it’s about cutting off the supply chain that fuels them. When your information is removed from data broker databases:
- It’s harder for scammers to find accurate contact details
- Phishing messages become less convincing
- Impersonation attempts fail more often
- Your identity becomes less valuable to resell.
This has a compounding benefit in the opposite direction. The fewer lists you appear on in January, the fewer times your data gets reused, resold, and recycled throughout the year. That’s why I consistently recommend addressing data exposure before problems start, not after.
Why retirees and families feel the impact first
January is especially important for retirees and families because they’re more likely to become targets of fraud, scams, and other crimes.
Retirees often have:
- Long addresses and employment histories
- Stable credit profiles
- Fewer active credit applications
- Public retirement and property records
Families add another layer of risk:
- Relatives are linked together in broker profiles
- One exposed family member can expose others
- Shared addresses and phone plans increase visibility
Scammers know this. That’s why households with established financial histories are prioritized early in the year.
Why quick fixes don’t work
Many people try to “start fresh” in January by:
Those steps help, but they don’t remove your data from broker databases. Credit monitoring services alert you after something goes wrong. Password changes don’t affect public profiles. And unsubscribing doesn’t stop data resale. If your personal information is still sitting in hundreds of databases, scammers can find you.
The January privacy reset that actually works
If you want fewer scam attempts for the rest of the year, the most effective step is removing your personal data at the source.
You can do this in one of two ways. You can submit removal requests yourself, or you can use a professional data removal service to handle the process for you.
Removing your data yourself
Manually removing your data means identifying dozens or even hundreds of data broker websites, finding their opt-out forms and submitting removal requests one by one. You also need to verify your identity, track responses and repeat the process whenever your information reappears.
This approach works, but it requires time, organization, and ongoing follow-up.
Using a data removal service
A data removal service handles this process on your behalf. These services typically:
- Send legal data removal requests to large networks of data brokers
- Monitor for reposted information and submit follow-up removals
- Continue tracking your exposure throughout the year
- Manage a process that most people cannot realistically maintain on their own
Removing your data at the start of the year helps reduce scam attempts, phishing messages and identity theft risks all year long. (iStock)
Because these services handle sensitive personal information, it is important to choose one that follows strict security standards and uses verified removal methods.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
RETIREES LOSE MILLIONS TO FAKE HOLIDAY CHARITIES AS SCAMMERS EXPLOIT SEASONAL GENEROSITY
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Scammers don’t wait for mistakes. They wait for exposed data. January is when profiles are refreshed, lists are rebuilt, and targets are chosen for the year ahead. The longer your personal information stays online, the more complete-and dangerous-your digital profile becomes. The good news? You can stop the cycle. Removing your data now reduces scam attempts, protects your identity, and gives you a quieter, safer year ahead. If you’re going to make one privacy move this year, make it early-and make it count.
Have you ever been surprised by how much of your personal information was already online? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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