Aug 11, 2023 · Companies that sell CPNs to consumers market them as a way to hide a bad credit history or bankruptcy. They'll also claim you can use the CPN instead of your SSN to …

Aug 18, 2025 · CPNs are derived from stolen or fabricated Social Security Numbers, misrepresenting information to financial institutions. Individuals using CPNs for financial gain …

Mar 5, 2024 · CPNs aren’t issued by the federal government and have no official legal standing. They operate in a legal gray area, but using a CPN to apply for credit constitutes fraud, and …

Are CPNs legal? Selling CPNs as a way to repair credit is illegal. So is using a CPN to attempt to hide credit history. Only government-issued identification, such as SSNs or ITINs, are legal to …

Jan 19, 2024 · Using CPNs to help repair or cover up poor credit history is illegal. The government does not issue CPNs, and using anything other than a government approved or issued …

May 14, 2025 · CPNs are not issued by the government and often come at a cost. It is illegal to use a CPN instead of a Social Security number to try and create a new identity with a fresh …

May 28, 2024 · Unlike a real SSN, though, CPNs are not issued or recognized by the government, and they are illegal to use on credit applications. CPNs are also sometimes called credit …

Jun 27, 2025 · But here’s the truth: CPNs aren’t issued by any government agency or credit bureau — and in many cases, they’re either randomly generated or stolen Social Security …

Jun 30, 2025 · Using a CPN on credit applications is fraud and may involve identity theft. The use of a CPN is illegal and CPNs are not recognized as valid by any government or financial …

Jan 13, 2022 · A credit privacy number (CPN) is a nine-digit number that looks just like a Social Security number. That’s no coincidence because illegitimate CPNs are actually stolen Social …