Can You Go to Jail for Using a CPN? What You Need to Know to Improve Your Credit Legally
If you’re trying to repair your credit fast, you might have found websites advertising a credit privacy number (CPN) as a solution to your problem. A CPN, sometimes called a credit protection number, might seem like the way out of a financial hole — especially if you need money desperately — but we urge you to think twice before getting one. The CPN being offered to you is probably a scam. And falling for a scam while trying to rebuild your credit history would be the worst-case scenario.
Below, we’ll answer the question, “Can you go to jail for using a CPN?” and whether there are any legal ways to obtain a CPN number. (Spoiler alert: There are not.)
Luckily, you can improve your credit legitimately without colluding with scammers. Let’s get to it.
What Is a CPN?
A CPN is a nine-digit series of numbers typically used for credit repair scams. Companies offering CPNs usually approach people with poor credit and offer them a way to improve their credit history by using a CPN in place of a Social Security number on credit applications.
There’s just one problem: CPNs are almost always tied to identity theft and fraud. And if you use one to complete any financial application, you’re committing a crime. Sellers position CPNs as a credit fix, but they’re often Social Security numbers (SSNs) stolen from children, the elderly, incarcerated individuals, and those who are recently deceased. Others are simply a fake number of randomly generated numbers meant to look like a real SSN.
How CPNs Work
Some companies moonlighting as credit repair specialists advertise CPNs as an alternative to SSNs, presenting a way to avoid bankruptcy and wipe clean a bad credit history. Under this guise, you can use your new CPN instead of your SSN on credit applications to show a better credit history and improve your chances of securing the card or loan.
It’s a tempting offer, as those with higher credit scores can save thousands on loans and credit applications by securing better terms and lower interest rates. But CPNs are illegal, and using one could land you in jail. The U.S. government does not issue CPNs, and using anything other than government-issued identification on financial applications is considered fraud.
Here’s how a CPN scam works:
- Scammer company steals a Social Security number
- Scammer company creates a fake CPN using the SSN or by generating a random series of numbers
- Scammer company offers the CPN to you as a legitimate way to fix bad credit
- You use the CPN to hide your credit history under an illegitimate identity
Heads Up: If you have the opportunity to apply for or buy a CPN number, don’t do it. Pursuing a CPN can lead to legal issues and potential fraud concerns, which could result in jail time and fines.
How to Spot CPN Scams
Fraudulent credit repair companies often use high-pressure tactics to get you to act fast and catch you off guard. If you notice any of these red flags, you’re probably dealing with a credit repair CPN scam:
- “Quick fix” Promises: Repairing bad credit history and building good credit takes time and a consistent track record of responsible financial transactions. Companies claiming to offer quick fixes by
- “piggybacking” on others’ credit are likely fraudulent.
- False claims of government affiliation: Be wary of organizations that provide misleading information or fail to produce proper verification. SSNs are only ever issued by the government, and in those instances, they will offer documentation you can easily verify.
- Suggestions to use false information on applications: Because the CPN is pulled from other people, scammers will suggest that you use false information to apply for credit and help you build a new score. This is illegal and a telltale sign of a credit repair scam.
- High fees: Scammers commonly request large payments in exchange for an Illegal CPN, often even before providing any credit repair services. Don’t give advanced payments to companies whose identity you cannot verify.
If you suspect a company is running a credit repair scam, file a report with the FTC. You might also consider contacting the three credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — if you think your credit information is at risk.
Key Takeaway: It’s illegal to use a CPN on any financial application. Using a CPN to apply for credit will be considered a punishable crime, and you should instead choose to implement strategies to boost your credit legally.
5 Legal and Effective Ways to Improve Your Credit
A CPN is not a credit fix. Remember, government-issued identification like a Social Security number is your only legitimate form of credit identity. If you’re looking for ways to improve a credit score, consider these smart strategies.
1. Lower Your Credit Utilization
A quick way to boost your credit health is to reduce how much credit you're using compared to the amount of credit available to you. Lenders like to see a utilization ratio of 30% or less, but going even lower than that can improve your credit quickly.
2. Reduce Card Balances Strategically
The more you understand how the game works, the better you can play it. Find out when your card reports to the credit bureaus, and pay down your balance right before that time. This will help improve the data used in calculating your score.
To improve what gets reported to the powers that be, you can also make multiple payments throughout the month to keep your balance low.
While you’re at it, make it a habit to check your credit report for errors (you can do this for free once a year from each of the credit bureaus). If you find an error, request an update or dispute it to ensure it doesn’t negatively affect your credit history.
3. Prioritize Collections Accounts
Work to pay off high-impact debt first, like those in debt collections, so the collections agency stops reporting the debt to the bureaus and your score improves. Collections accounts can hang around in your credit report for seven years, but you can ask for a goodwill deletion if you’ve paid in full.
4. Become an Authorized User on Another Account
A family member or friend you trust with a good credit history can help rebuild your credit by adding you as an authorized user on one of their cards. You don’t have to actually use the card — or even know the account number — to improve your credit using this method.
5. Keep Older Credit Accounts Open
While it may seem counterintuitive while you’re trying to repair your credit, leaving older accounts open that you don’t use can actually help you establish a longer credit history — a main factor used in calculating credit scores. Keeping them open also increases the amount of credit available to you, helping to improve your utilization ratio.
Final Thoughts
With scammers offering an appealing shortcut to credit repair, it’s understandable to wonder how to obtain a CPN number legally. However, using a CPN can expose you to severe legal consequences, including fines and imprisonment. Legitimate credit repair takes time and effort, but it's the only lawful way to improve your financial standing. Focus on proven methods like paying down debts and establishing a positive payment history.
FAQ
We’ve answered these common questions to better explain the consequences of using a CPN as a credit repair strategy.
Is a CPN a Crime?
Most CPNs are not issued by the government, and therefore, are illegal. If you use one to repair your credit or apply for a loan, you are committing a crime that could result in fines or even jail time.
Can You Go to Jail for Using a CPN Number?
Yes. Using a CPN instead of an SSN on credit applications is illegal because it’s considered falsified information. Using anything other than government-approved identification on financial applications is considered fraud and identity theft, which could lead to a jail sentence.
What’s the Difference Between a CPN and SSN?
Your SSN is a nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens by the Social Security Administration (SSA), usually at birth. SSNs are legally allowed on financial applications, but CPNs are not. Plus, SSNs are issued for free, while companies offering you a CPN that resembles an SSN will charge you a hefty fee.
How Do You Get a CPN Number?
It’s extremely risky to apply for a CPN, and it’s almost impossible to obtain one legally. In most cases, fraudulent companies claiming to be credit repair specialists will offer you a CPN in exchange for a fee — sometimes thousands of dollars.
Can You Get a New SSN?
It’s tempting to wish for a new SSN as a way to start fresh with your credit history, but the SSA will only issue a new SSN if:
Sequential SSNs assigned to members of the same family are causing problems
- More than one person is assigned or is using the same SSN
- A victim of identity theft is facing issues using their original number
- A person is experiencing harassment, abuse, or life-threatening danger
- Someone has religious or cultural objections to numbers or digits in their original SSN
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