Viral TikTok “credit sweeps” tell you to dispute every debt as identity theft. The FTC warned in January 2026: that’s a federal crime, not a loophole. Here’s the truth.
Quick Answer: Using a Credit Profile Number (CPN) in place of a Social Security Number on credit applications is illegal fraud that can result in jail time — see my full, current breakdown of the CPN “fresh credit file” myth and the federal prosecutions behind it. Court cases like United States v. Lacia Allen demonstrate …
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