What Exactly Is A CPN: Is it Safe or Not?

CPN stands for credit privacy number, a nine-digit number that can be used on credit papers in place of your Social Security number. Credit privacy number, consumer protection number, or credit profile number are examples of "CPN" or "CPN number." A CPN is frequently promoted as a substitute for your Social Security Number (SSN).

Because SSNs are linked to much personal information, some allege that celebrities and government leaders use CPNs to safeguard their privacy. However, there is no evidence to support the concept of a documented valid source of CPNs.

Do I Need To Use A CPN?

If the idea of utilizing a CPN to safeguard your Social Security number on documents and applications has grabbed your interest, hold your thoughts. Using a CPN is a terrible idea. First and foremost, there is no such thing as a credit privacy number. Furthermore, using a number other than your genuine Social Security number on a credit application is considered a federal offense for which you could face prosecution. The basic message is that CPNs are a rip-off, and you should avoid them at all costs.

Why Do People Choose To Use A CPN?

You might want to utilize a CPN number for a few reasons. First and foremost, you may be concerned about identity theft; after all, if someone obtains your Social Security number, they can start bank accounts, apply for credit cards and loans in your name, and take advantage of your medical and job benefits. The less your Social Security number is used, the less likely it will be stolen by identity thieves.

Another reason to safeguard your Social Security number is that if someone obtains it, they can learn a great deal about you, including where you live, what you own, and what's going on in your life. Scammers assert that you can use a CPN instead of your real Social Security number because of these concerns, even claiming that many politicians and celebrities use CPNs to secure their identity.

What Are CPN Numbers, and Where Do They Come From?

All Social Security numbers (SSNs) come from the Social Security Administration, whereas all Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) come from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These organizations do not issue CPNs, nor do any other government agencies.

Many businesses may offer "clean" CPN numbers for sale, but they will not tell you where they came from or how they obtained them. They are unable to give credible documentation on the origins of these numbers.

Some merchants fraudulently claim to have attorneys who can request a CPN number application from the government on your behalf, but this is impossible because the government does not issue CPNs. In reality, disreputable organizations gain so-called CPNs in one of two ways, both of which are illegal:

1. They use legitimate Social Security numbers stolen from other individuals, most commonly from minors, the elderly, the deceased, the homeless, and those who are incarcerated. Scammers target these groups because they are less likely to realize their Social Security Numbers have been stolen. If someone claims to sell you a CPN with a specific credit score or credit report, this is a significant red indicator that it could be a stolen SSN.
2. They manufacture new, fictitious social security numbers that the US government has yet to issue. They achieve this by utilizing algorithms to produce 9-digit numbers and then comparing them to online databases to see which ones can impersonate Social Security numbers. They then sell these numbers to unwitting customers as CPNs.

How Do I Obtain a CPN?

The truth is that there is no legal way to obtain a CPN because no official government institution issues or recognizes them. The only way to receive a CPN is to buy a stolen or false Social Security number, as mentioned above.

While credit repair firms and other organizations that sell them may appear legitimate, buying a fake SSN, which is what a CPN is, is not. An SSN is a government-issued identification number that the government does not "sell" or make CPN applications available for.

While credit repair agencies and other businesses that sell them may appear legitimate, they are not. Purchasing a fake Social Security number, as a CPN is, is not legal. An SSN is a government-identifying number, and the government does not "sell" these numbers or offer CPN applications.

In severe instances, the Social Security Administration has the right to grant new SSNs, but the standards are strict. Only if your life is in danger or if you can prove that someone has stolen your number, is actively using it, and is causing you severe ongoing harm can you receive a new SSN.

If you get a new SSN, your new number is still linked to your old number's credit profile, and they both receive unique indicators that assist creditors in noticing the change, so this isn't a good strategy to erase your credit history.

How Can I Defend Myself Against CPN Scammers?

The simplest method to avoid CPN fraud is to be certain that CPNs don't exist and that anyone who uses them is a con artist. It's also useful to be aware of some of the methods scammers employ to persuade you to believe them. You may be assured that having a CPN number can help you get rid of your negative credit or put it behind you.

Fraudulent companies may also inform you that using a CPN instead of your Social Security number is acceptable when it isn't. You could be charged with identity theft because the CPN number you're given is frequently an SSN of a deceased person.

In addition, scammers will frequently advise you to lie on your credit applications to avoid being linked to your previous credit history or to use an Employee Identification Number, or EIN, on your credit applications. Fraudulent CPN sellers will frequently claim that you will no longer be associated with your negative credit and that your credit history will be wiped clean by receiving a CPN. All of these statements are bogus, and you should never pay such companies or persons for any services, and you should never apply for credit using anything other than your Social Security number.

Conclusions Regarding CPNs

In the United States, a Social Security number is the most crucial and high-level personal identifying number. These numbers are only issued by the government and cannot be bought or sold on the open market. The government has characterized misrepresenting your SSN as a federal criminal; thus, using a CPN instead of your SSN could be a federal offense.