A CPN, or credit privacy number, is a nine-digit number that is formatted like a Social Security number (SSN) . It is marketed as a way to hide a bad credit history or bankruptcy, and some companies claim that you can use the CPN instead of your SSN to apply for credit with your new credit identity. However, CPNs are illegal and fraudulent, and using them to create a false identity is considered identity theft. CPNs are often actual SSNs lifted from real people, including children, prison inmates, and the deceased, and using them can put you in legal trouble. Misrepresenting your SSN on a credit application is a federal crime, and credit agencies can easily spot discrepancies if you try to use a CPN on an application instead of your SSN. Repairing your credit takes time and work, so a CPN may seem like a shortcut, but it is not a solution to your credit rating problem.