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Danny Mok

Sixteen people have been arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly using falsified medical certificates claiming loss of working ability or terminal illness to fraudulently withdraw HK$4.3 million (US$548,680) in Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) savings.
Police said on Thursday that the suspects comprised nine men and seven women, aged 29 to 63, who reported their occupations as chefs, drivers and waiters, among other jobs.
Two of the suspects were allegedly core members of a syndicate running a middleman company, while the rest were MPF account holders.
Superintendent Chu Ming-lun of the commercial crime bureau said the two intermediaries had allegedly recruited and helped MPF members to file fraudulent applications.
All members of the group were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud.
Police said the two suspected syndicate members had placed ads on social media claiming to offer a safe, compliant and guaranteed way to withdraw MPF funds early.
“Even the general public knows that early withdrawal of MPF savings is only permitted under special circumstances. But some applicants, weighed down by heavy debts or other financial issues, chose to take the risk,” Chu said.
Under the law, employees can withdraw their pension before the age of 65 under certain circumstances, including early retirement, permanent departure from Hong Kong, total incapacity for work and terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than a year.
The intermediaries obtained contributors’ personal details and eMPF platform passwords, impersonated them to log in and uploaded forged medical certificates.
Some applicants submitted doctors’ notes citing terminal illness or “total incapacity”, which means the MPF account holder is permanently unfit to perform the type of work they were last performing before becoming incapacitated, to justify early withdrawals.
The syndicate charged commissions of 10 to 20 per cent for every successful application, with individual withdrawal requests ranging from HK$110,000 to HK$600,000, and totalling HK$4.3 million.
One of the intermediaries was also accused of money laundering.
A police source said that since March, multiple cases had surfaced involving early withdrawal requests citing total incapacity or terminal illness.
The insider said the suspicious medical certificates had overly simplified chops with strikingly similar designs.
The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority later confirmed the documents were suspected forgeries and referred the matter to police.
During the operation, the force seized MPF documents, bank records and electronic devices.
The suspects remain in custody, with police saying further arrests were possible.
The eMPF Platform Company, a wholly‑owned subsidiary of the MPFA, expressed concern over crime syndicates suspected of inducing scheme members to use forged medical certificates to illegally apply for early withdrawal.
The team has strengthened the vetting process for all applications for early MPF withdrawal, particularly those submitted on the grounds of terminal illness or total incapacity.


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News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Superintendent says suspects include two alleged intermediaries who recruited and helped MPF members to file fraudulent applications


Superintendent says suspects include two alleged intermediaries who recruited and helped MPF members to file fraudulent applications.


Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF)

Crime

16 arrested over bogus MPF withdrawal requests due to serious health problems

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Superintendent says suspects include two alleged intermediaries who recruited and helped MPF members to file fraudulent applications

Superintendent says suspects include two alleged intermediaries who recruited and helped MPF members to file fraudulent applications