Beware phishing e-mails that offer fake CPF refund payouts
The CPF Board warned of phishing e-mails falsely claiming refunds of excess CPF contributions, urging the public not to click links or share personal details.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
The CPF Board has issued an advisory about a phishing scam that claims to offer refunds of excess CPF contributions. The scam emails spoof the CPF Board's email address and logo, but official communications only come from @cpf.gov.sg or @e.cpf.gov.sg domains.
Imagine you get an email saying you're eligible for a refund from your CPF account. But it's a scam! The scammers are trying to trick you into giving them your personal details. Don't click on any links or download anything. Just delete the email and be safe.
Analysis
CPF Scam Alert
The CPF Board has issued an advisory about a phishing scam that claims to offer refunds of excess CPF contributions. The scam emails spoof the CPF Board's email address and logo, but official communications only come from @cpf.gov.sg or @e.cpf.gov.sg domains.
The scam emails ask recipients to confirm the refund details via a link, which could lead to the theft of personal and banking details. The CPF Board has warned that those who receive such emails should delete them immediately and not click on any links or download any attachments.
Government impersonation scams have been on the rise in Singapore, with cases more than doubling from 1,504 in 2024 to 3,363 in 2025. The amount lost to such scams also rose significantly by around 60 per cent, from $151.3 million in 2024 to $242.9 million in 2025.
The CPF Board has provided guidelines on how to identify official communications, including only contacting CPF members via official emails with the domain names @cpf.gov.sg or @e.cpf.gov.sg. They have also warned that calls from the CPF Board will only be made via their hotline 6227-1188, and text messages will be sent via official accounts with the "gov.sg" sender ID.
Those who are unsure if they are encountering a scam should call the 24/7 ScamShield helpline on 1799 or contact the CPF Board at cpf.gov.sg/service/contact-us.
Key points
- The CPF Board has issued an advisory about a phishing scam that claims to offer refunds of excess CPF contributions.
- The scam emails spoof the CPF Board's email address and logo, but official communications only come from @cpf.gov.sg or @e.cpf.gov.sg domains.
- Those who receive such emails should delete them immediately and not click on any links or download any attachments.
- Government impersonation scams have been on the rise in Singapore, with cases more than doubling from 2024 to 2025.
- The amount lost to such scams has risen significantly, from $151.3 million in 2024 to $242.9 million in 2025.
If people are aware of this scam and take precautions, they can avoid falling victim to it. The CPF Board's advisory has raised awareness about the scam and provided guidelines on how to identify official communications.
The scam could still affect many people, especially those who are not aware of the scam or do not take precautions. The amount lost to such scams has risen significantly, and it's essential to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
