A car salesman claims he caught a customer attempting to use a sneaky scam to buy a car from him. Here\u2019s how he did it\u2014and how he got caught.<\/p>\n
TikTok creator @bigbodybenz_91 sells cars in Houston, Texas. He recently posted a series about \u201chow a customer got caught with a CPN trying to buy a car from us.\u201d<\/p>\n
For those unfamiliar with the term, a Credit Privacy Number (CPN)<\/a> is a nine-digit number that scammers portray as a \u201creplacement\u201d Social Security Number (SSN). In some cases, these CPNs are real SSNs that scammers stole from another person. Either way, it is illegal to use a CPN in lieu of your SSN on financial paperwork.<\/p>\n How Did The Salesman Catch a Customer Using a CPN?<\/p>\n According to @bigbodybenz_91, the dealership team knew about the issue with the customer\u2019s paperwork before he left the finance department. As they waited for police<\/a>, they set the man up with the car as if he was going to be taking it home. \u201cHe\u2019s geeked up because he\u2019s thinking \u2026 I done got away with this,\u201d @bigbodybenz_91 says.<\/p>\n He led the man to the vehicle and told him they needed to do a \u201cpre-delivery inspection\u201d and install the connected services app onto the customer\u2019s phone. The customer wasn\u2019t interested in going through the process, but @bigbodybenz_91 convinced him to do it.<\/p>\n \u201cI shook his hand like congratulations on your new car,\u201d @bigbodybenz_91 says. \u201cThe moment the gates lifted up, it was like seven Houston police officers just swarmed our dealership. At this point, he knew he was caught.\u201d<\/p>\n Why Car Shoppers Should Not Use CPNs<\/p>\n Knowing he was caught apparently didn’t stop the man from attempting to flee. He was caught soon after and a bag he left behind contained multiple ID cards and fraud paraphernalia, @bigbodybenz_91 says.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I just want to let y\u2019all know,\u201d the creator says. \u201cIf y\u2019all are trying to come to these dealerships and buy a car off a CPN, they will make you think you got the deal done the whole way.\u201d<\/p>\n He continues, \u201cYou need to be careful, because they are definitely getting smarter. Just to let y\u2019all know again. Stop getting those CPNs made. Just take that money, go get your actual credit fixed, and then come holler at us.\u201d<\/p>\n The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis notes<\/a> that \u201cthose who purchase a CPN and use it \u2026 are committing several crimes, including identity theft and making false statements on a loan or credit application.\u201d<\/p>\n