If you’ve got a lot of questions about CPNs, whether they’re legal, how to get one, and what they even do, you’re in the right place! Keep on reading for the full low-down. 

What is a CPN? 

A credit privacy number or CPN (often called a credit protection number, credit profile number, or consumer protection number), is a nine-digit number sold by scammers under the pretense that it can replace your Social Security number.  
 
CPNs are not government issued. In fact, they are often repurposed stolen/leaked Social Security numbers — potentially from children, prison inmates, or the deceased. Therefore, by using a CPN, you could be committing identity theft without even realizing it. 

How does a credit privacy number work? 

Scammers often advertise CPNs as a way for people with poor credit to start afresh. The thinking behind it is, if someone were to use a CPN on a credit application in place of their Social Security number, the credit lender wouldn’t be able to view their real credit history. However, the use of a CPN to try to hide one’s credit history, and therefore misrepresenting one’s identity, would be considered fraud.  

Is a CPN legal? 

CPNs are illegal. They are not issued by the federal government — they are simply stolen/leaked Social Security numbers. By using a CPN in place of your Social Security number, you would be committing fraud.  

Can a CPN number fix your credit? 

This is how CPNs are most often advertised/sold: as a way for people with a poor credit rating to get a fresh start. Unfortunately, however, the use of a CPN is illegal, so by using one you wouldn’t be fixing your credit, you would simply be committing fraud.  

How do CPN and credit repair scams work? 

Scammers/cybercriminals sell CPNs on the internet/dark web and pitch them to prospective buyers as a way to repair/hide their poor credit history. However, with CPNs being nothing more than stolen/leaked Social Security numbers, they are simply a scam. Therefore, no matter how much someone tries to convince you that you should buy a CPN, don’t take the bait! 

How to Protect Yourself Against ID Theft 

With all this talk of stolen/leaked data, you might be wondering what you can do to keep a watchful eye on yours. Well, with Trend Micro ID Protection — our new and 100% free tool — you can easily stay in the know regarding the safety of your data. 

With Trend Micro ID Protection you can: 

• Check to see if your data (email address, phone number, password, social media account) has been exposed in a leak. 
• Secure your social media accounts with our Social Media Account Monitoring tool, with which you’ll receive a personal report. 
• Receive the strongest tough-to-hack password suggestions from our advanced AI. 

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