Singapore's PayNow drops nicknames in 2026 to fight scams
The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) will remove the PayNow nickname feature for retail customers from 6 June 2026 to reduce the risk of impersonation scams.
Instead of user-created nicknames, payers will see selected letters of the recipient's registered account name before completing a transfer.
ABS said the change will make it harder for scammers to use names that resemble trusted individuals or established entities to mislead victims into sending money to fraudulent accounts.
The feature has been available since PayNow launched in 2017, introduced for users who did not want their full registered account names shown when receiving payments through their mobile number or NRIC number.
Retail PayNow display names will be automatically updated from 6 June 2026 and customers do not need to take any action.
All other PayNow transfer and receiving functions remain unchanged.
Businesses receiving PayNow payments through their UEN are not affected, as they do not have access to the nickname feature or the ability to modify their registered account names.
Ong-Ang Ai Boon, Director of ABS, said,
Safeguarding consumers against scams is a top priority for the industry. While PayNow has made everyday payments more convenient, it is equally important that users can transact with confidence.
Discontinuing the nickname feature removes an avenue that scammers can exploit while safeguarding customer privacy. This enhancement will help ensure that PayNow users continue to enjoy a secure and trusted payments experience.
