Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

I have no idea what a CPN or Credit Profile Number is. It is not a legal term of art, and as far as I know, it is not something that the credit reporting agencies use. My guess is that this is a new spin on an old game. Many years ago when the economy was bad, some "less-than reputable" salespeople started selling people systems to build a new "credit profile." It involves requesting an Employer Identification Number from the IRS, and using that in lieu of your social security number. Is it illegal? No - anyone can get an EIN at any time. Can you use it to obtain credit? Not really - if you are an individual, credit applications ask for your social security number. This is not a social security number. If you substitute this EIN for your social security number, you have lied to the creditor, and could be liable not only for the debt incurred, but for fraud as well. Research on the Federal Trade Commission's website for scams involving a new credit profile or new credit identification - you will see that they look very dimly upon this practice, and can site you to specific laws which make it illegal if improperly used.

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