Protecting Your Personal Information Online
Understand what personal information to protect and how to avoid sharing too much online.
Start the guide
Start with the first step, try it on your own device, and use the next-step section at the end if you want a clear follow-on guide.
Guide details and who this is for
Guide details
- Published
- January 15, 2025
- Country scope
- Global
Who this is for
Best for anyone checking whether a message, website, payment, or request is safe.
Be careful
Pause if anything asks for passwords, OTP codes, money transfers, or urgent action. Real organisations do not need you to panic to prove they are genuine.
Before you begin
What this guide helps you do
This guide shows the main warning signs to check before you click, reply, log in, share details, or pay.
Best time to use it
Use it when something feels urgent, unusual, or asks for personal information, codes, or money.
Common mistake to avoid
Do not act while pressured. Slow down first, then verify the sender, website, or request.
Helpful tech words
Open a plain-English term first if you need it
Phishing
A trick where someone pretends to be a trusted company or person — like your bank, CPF Board, or the police — to steal your passwords or personal details. It usually comes as a fake SMS, email, or phone call.
OTP (One-Time Password)
A temporary code sent to your phone or email that can only be used once for a single login or transaction.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
A security step that asks you to prove who you are in two ways — usually your password plus a code sent to your phone. It makes your accounts much harder to break into.
What Is Personal Information?
Personal information is anything that can be used to identify you or access your accounts. Protecting it is one of the most important things you can do online.
What to protect carefully
High-risk — never share these with anyone:
- national ID number
- official government login password and OTP codes
- Bank account numbers and passwords
- Credit card numbers, CVV (the 3 digits on the back)
- instant bank transfer PIN or transaction approval codes
- the retirement service account details
Medium-risk — share only when necessary:
- Home address
- Date of birth
- Phone number
- Email address
Lower-risk (but still be careful):
- Full name
- Workplace
How personal information gets stolen
1. Phishing calls and SMS Someone pretends to be from the retirement service, the tax service, your bank, or the police, and asks for your details “to verify your account” or “process a refund”.
Real agencies never ask for passwords or OTPs over the phone.
2. Fake websites You click a link, arrive at a fake login page, and type your credentials. The scammer captures them immediately.
3. Social media oversharing Posting your full name, national ID, birthday, and address on Facebook gives strangers everything they need to steal your identity.
4. Old documents in the bin Bank statements, utility bills, and national ID photocopies in the rubbish can be retrieved and used. Shred or tear up documents with personal details before throwing them away.
Protecting yourself online
- Use a different email address for online shopping and promotions — keep a separate one for banking and government services.
- Check your bank statements monthly for any transactions you do not recognise.
- Set up transaction alerts on your banking app so you are notified of every payment.
- Do not fill in forms asking for your national ID or bank details unless you are certain of the source.
- Regularly check important financial and government-service accounts for unusual activity.
What to do if your information has been compromised
- Change your passwords immediately — start with official government login, then your bank, then email.
- Call your bank to alert them and check for unauthorised transactions.
- File a police report at any Neighbourhood Police Post or through your official online police reporting portal.
- Call the official government login helpline if your official government login may have been accessed: 6335 3533.
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