Singapore’s Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board launched two new measures on Monday, February 2, designed to protect members from increasingly sophisticated scam tactics. The initiatives, called the trusted contact notification service and the CPF safety switch, are additions to existing safeguards already in place.
New Safeguards Explained
The CPF safety switch is available to members aged 55 and above. It allows them to immediately secure their CPF accounts if they suspect they have been targeted by a scam. Activation stops all online access, halts any withdrawals in progress, and prevents future withdrawals. Disbursements to registered bank accounts will also be stopped.
The trusted contact notification service, for members aged 21 and above, allows individuals to nominate two trusted contacts. These contacts will receive copies of notifications regarding important transactions, such as CPF lump sum withdrawals. The CPF Board stated this service is intended to provide an additional layer of security by enabling trusted individuals to identify and respond to potentially fraudulent activity.
Existing Protections
These new measures complement existing protections, including the use of biometrics for online nominations and a 12-hour cooling period for increases to daily online withdrawal limits. Members can also activate a CPF withdrawal lock, setting their daily withdrawal limit to S$0.
The CPF Board emphasized its commitment to ongoing review and enhancement of anti-scam measures, as well as continued collaboration with banks and other government agencies to monitor evolving scam tactics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the CPF safety switch do?
The CPF safety switch immediately secures a member’s CPF account if they suspect a scam, disabling online access, stopping withdrawals, and halting disbursements to registered bank accounts.
Who can use the trusted contact notification service?
CPF members aged 21 and above can nominate two trusted contacts to receive notifications about important transactions.
How can I activate the CPF safety switch?
Eligible members can activate the safety switch by calling the CPF hotline at 1800-227-1188. It can only be deactivated in person at a CPF service centre or by calling the hotline during operating hours.
Given the increasing prevalence of scams, how confident are you in your ability to identify and avoid fraudulent activity targeting your financial accounts?
