The Department of Social Welfare and Development has renewed its warning against scammers pretending to be DSWD personnel and sending bogus messages that promise cash assistance worth ₱6,500 to ₱8,500 in exchange for personal details.
These fraudulent offers are being spread mainly through SMS and Facebook Messenger, urging recipients to submit their full name, contact number, and home address so they can supposedly be “listed” as beneficiaries of a fake DSWD program. In some cases, the scammers go further by asking victims to give access to their GCash account—allowing them to drain funds from unsuspecting users.
DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao stressed that the messages are not authorized by any DSWD office, emphasizing that the department does not randomly choose beneficiaries via text or private chat and does not request sensitive information such as addresses, phone numbers, or one-time passwords (OTPs) in exchange for aid.
The spokesperson noted that similar scam waves spiked in December 2025 and are again resurfacing from January to February this year, with more netizens posting warnings online after being targeted—or scammed.
She reminded the public that legitimate DSWD programs like Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program follow established procedures and are implemented by the department’s social workers and field personnel, often in coordination with LGUs and accredited partners. The DSWD advised the public to rely only on its official website and verified social media pages for announcements, and to treat “too easy” offers that ask for personal or account access details as immediate red flags. Victims are also urged to report incidents to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group and inform the DSWD through its official channels to help stop the spread of scams.
