EPF reminds members not to get involved in fraudulent withdrawals

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has reminded its members not to work with syndicates or agents who offer them assistance to withdraw their funds fraudulently.

Its Corporate Affairs Head, Nik Affendi Jaafar said the EPF views fraudulent withdrawals as a serious offence and would not hesitate to take stern action against members who were involved in it.

“Members who face financial problems are reminded to be careful with advertisements on various websites or agents who give out their business cards and pamphlets offering to help them withdraw their EPF money,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Nik Affendi said the EPF had never appointed or approved the services of a third party for withdrawal applications and members who want to make withdrawals can contact the EPF which offers free service.

He said the EPF had a comprehensive system to detect any fraud or attempt to forge a withdrawal even after the funds had been taken out.

He said fraudulent withdrawals including submitting false documents with the intention of getting approval faster was an offence under the EPF Act 1991 which carries a maximum sentence of three years jail or RM10,000 fine or both, if convicted.

He said from July until September this year, eight members had been charged in court while six summonses were issued to members who cheated.

Meanwhile, members who encounter any attempts to cheat on EPF withdrawals have been urged to report this  to the EPF Anti-Fraud hotline at telephone number 03-26162121 during office hours from Monday to Friday. — Bernama