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 at least 14 MPF members to file fraudulent applications. All members of the group were arrested on suspicion of fraud.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.The intermediaries obtained contributors’ personal details and eMPF platform passwords, impersonated them to log in and uploaded forged medical certificates.