Credit profile number
A credit profile number or credit privacy number (CPN) is a term for a scheme marketed by criminals and organizations as a quick fix for poor credit history or to hide bankruptcies.[1][2] CPNs are nine-digit numbers that are formatted like a Social Security number. In reality, the number is a fraudulently obtained SSN that is used in place of the person's real Social Security number when applying for credit.[2]
Process
The scheme is promoted by companies claiming that they can clean up poor credit history and/or guarantee a credit score of 700–800 in a short period of time. The perpetrators of the scheme acquire legitimate SSNs, which are run through public databases to determine if they are usable for the scam.[2]
Credit profile numbers are Social Security numbers of unsuspecting fraud victims, which most commonly belong to children, prison inmates, or the elderly.[2][1]
Legality
Credit profile number schemes are illegal. Those who purchase a CPN and use it to establish a separate credit file from their real identity are committing several crimes, including identity theft and making false statements on a loan or credit application.[3][1]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "CPN Meaning". Capital One. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "The Old, the Young and the Incarcerated: Latest ID Theft Victims". www.stlouisfed.org. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ↑ "What Is a Credit Privacy Number and Is It Legal?". IDStrong. 2023-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
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