26 Jun 2026

SOURCE: CPF Board

Scams have grown more sophisticated, and the CPF savings of members can be a target. To enhance protection against scams, the Trusted Contact notification service was rolled out earlier this year to strengthen anti-scam measures against evolving scam tactics.

The idea is straightforward. CPF members can appoint a loved one as a Trusted Contact to provide an extra layer of security. Once appointed, that loved one receives a copy of the same notifications sent by CPF Board to the member for key transactions, such as lumpsum withdrawals or updates to contact details, bank account, and daily withdrawal limit, whenever they are made to the member's account.

Up to two Trusted Contacts can be appointed and they must be aged 21 and above and either a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident. They should also ideally be someone who regularly checks their notifications and alerts too.

If you’re wondering if this notification service is suitable for you, hear from these three different CPF members as they share their motivations behind signing up for the CPF Trusted Contact notification service and their experience with it.

Mr Chin (age 37): Looking out for an ageing parent

Mr Chin Guo Qiang with his mother and sister.

The motivation for Mr Chin Guo Qiang was deeply personal. His father passed away a year and a half ago, leaving his 72-year-old mother as his only living parent.

With the bulk of his mother’s retirement savings sitting in her CPF account, he was thinking about how he could take on a more active role in protecting her CPF savings from scams.

"Scams are getting prevalent in multiple forms and are targeting different generations," he said.

"(Acting) as her Trusted Contact is a good way for me to know if my mum is properly secured against scammers who target her hard-earned money which she has saved up for over 50 years since her first job."

The service has also given him and his sibling a shared sense of assurance. "Trusted Contact service allows for the family members, especially those in caretaker roles, to be notified whenever there are lump sum CPF withdrawals or any updates made to the bank account,” he explains.

The four notifications that matter

A Trusted Contact does not see the member's CPF balance, transaction history, or account statements. They are notified only when one of four specific types of transactions occurs.

1. CPF lump sum withdrawals for immediate retirement needs

If a scammer is attempting to withdraw money from a member's CPF savings, this is the alert that catches it. The notification includes the transaction date, withdrawal amount, details of the bank account used for withdrawal, and reasons for any unsuccessful withdrawal where applicable.

2) Bank account update

A common scam tactic is to redirect payouts to an attacker's account. The notification includes the transaction number, transaction date, transaction time, the update option used (PayNow or Interbank GIRO), and details of the new bank account.

Scammers often try to raise the daily withdrawal limit before attempting a large withdrawal. The notification shows the transaction date, the previous withdrawal limit, and the updated limit.

Changing the registered email or mobile number is often the first step in a takeover, and once an attacker controls the communication channels, the member stops seeing alerts. This notification shows the transaction date and transaction time.

Mr Liew (age 64): An added security for his hard-earned CPF money

Mr Kennard Liew with his wife and children.

Mr Kennard Liew decided to sign up for the Trusted Contact notification service after seeing an increase in scam-related stories on the news.

"I am concerned about the scams nowadays and think that this service will provide some protection for both my spouse and me," he says. The couple appointed each other after a discussion, and the decision came naturally. “My spouse had no hesitation because there is a high level of trust between us. We thought this was an added security for our CPF funds."

The sign-up itself was painless. "The process was done online and was easily executed within a short time," he says.

Mr Liew likens the protection to peeling an onion. "Our CPF money is like the bud in the centre. Surrounding this bud are the layers of protection methods to prevent scams. Trusted Contact (notification) service is one of these layers."

He has since recommended the service to his elderly parents and siblings. "My parents are receptive and asked me about (the sign-up process). To me, 'word of mouth' is the best way to connect and spread this knowledge with people you know."

How to sign up for the Trusted Contact notification service

Before appointing a Trusted Contact, make sure that you and your intended Trusted Contact’s details are up to date on the CPF website.

You can then add a Trusted Contact by visiting the Add or Remove Trusted Contact page. The appointee then receives a notification and must accept the request within 7 days for the appointment to become official. If the request has expired, you will need to submit a new appointment request. It’s recommended to personally inform your appointee about the appointment request to ensure that they understand their role as a Trusted Contact.

It is also worth noting what a Trusted Contact cannot do. They have no legal powers and cannot make decisions on the member's behalf. They cannot nominate beneficiaries, and they do not have the legal authority of a donee under a Lasting Power of Attorney or a court-appointed deputy. The role is to watch, not to act.

Mr Jee (age 64): The advocate who puts his money to the test

Mr Jee Su Giam with his wife and parents.

A long-time grassroots volunteer, Mr Jee Su Giam approached the service the way he approaches most new government initiatives: he wanted to understand it properly before recommending it to anyone else. He was very happy to hear about the Trusted Contact notification service, as he had long been advocating for it.

After he and his wife appointed each other as Trusted Contacts, he decided to stress-test the system. He withdrew a token sum just to see whether the notification would come through. "Indeed, it works," he says.

That experience now informs how he talks about the service at community gatherings, where he shares it as part of his grassroots volunteer work. "The feedback on the ground is largely quite receptive, and people listen," he says. "They even ask for additional steps they can take to safeguard their CPF savings."

But he is careful not to oversell. "Having a Trusted Contact does not mean that you are protected from scams. Do not let it give you a false sense of security." Personal scam hygiene and individual responsibility, he stresses, still matters most: "Before you act, inform and check with your loved ones."

His parents have both signed up for the Trusted Contact notification service, and he is already thinking of adding his son as a second Trusted Contact. His reasoning: having Trusted Contacts from different generations offers stronger protection.

What happens if something looks suspicious?

If you are a trusted contact for someone and receive a copy of a suspicious notification, you should check with your appointer to confirm that the transaction was authorised and legitimate.

If you suspect that your loved one may have fallen victim to a scam, alert the bank to freeze any affected bank accounts and activate the CPF Safety Switch. This disables CPF online services and stops any in-progress and future withdrawals. The CPF Board should also be informed after lodging a police report.

An ‘extra pair of eyes’ with the Trusted Contact notification service

Asked what they would say to someone still on the fence about signing up for the service, all three members agree: there is very little to lose.

"Nothing to lose, relatively easy to use," says Mr Jee. He emphasises that the service only covers four specific transaction types, not a sweep of the member's entire CPF account.

Mr Chin recommends starting at the source. "Do have a look at the Trusted Contact service online at the CPF website for accurate information."

And Mr Liew returns to his onion metaphor. "As scams grow increasingly sophisticated with the aid of AI, it is crucial to always be alert and proactive in adding another layer of protection to our hard-earned CPF money."

Information in this article is accurate as at the date of publication.