Withdrawals using fake documents can be detected, warns EPF

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) can detect if any of its contributors attempt to make withdrawals using fake documents.

EPF's chief executive officer, Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan said there were contributors who were approached by a syndicate and promised that there was a process to withdraw money from the EPF by using fake documents for example for housing withdrawals.

"The syndicate will use fake sales and purchase documents between contributors and non-existent developers, but we can detect because we will check with the developers, banks and lawyers to determine whether the document is valid or not.

Through the EPF system we have detected several such cases, we have already advised contributors not to be deceived and have also made police reports as well as taken action on contributors for using fake documents and attempting to make false withdrawals, an offence under the law," he said.

He said this in a press conference after the launch of the KWSP Retirement Talk Programme by the Minister in the Chief Minister's Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip at a shopping centre here Saturday.

The two-day programme starting yesterday is part of EPF's financial literacy campaign in collaboration with the Credit Counseling And Debt Management Agency (AKPK) to promote financial literacy programmes.

Earlier in his speech, Shahril Ridza said the programme was aimed at raising awareness and highlighting the importance of financial literacy in drafting a retirement plan and also a platform for members to check EPF statements through the EPF's mobile team.

--BERNAMA