FACT CHECK: ‘Unemployment financial assistance’ link is a scam – DSWD
Claim: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is giving gifts through its unemployment financial assistance program.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The link that purportedly redirects to the unemployment assistance program is posted in a public Facebook group with 29,100 members on August 14.
The post asks readers to click on the link provided, for a chance to win gifts from the DSWD, including cash worth P7,000.
The facts: On August 21, DSWD debunked the authenticity of the link, and warned the public that the said link is fake and a scam.
The department said: “Patuloy na kumakalat online ang isang FAKE LINK na nagsasabing magbibigay ang DSWD ng UNEMPLOYMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE matapos sumagot ng isang online survey. Ayon sa link, makakatanggap din umano ang mga sumagot ng “GIFT” tulad ng cellphone at pera mula sa Ahensya.”
(A fake link continues to circulate online claiming that the DSWD provides unemployment assistance after answering an online survey. According to the link, those who respond to the survey will receive a “gift”, such as cellphone and money, from the agency.)
“Ito ay pawang kasinungalingan at isang scam upang makuha ang inyong personal na impormasyon!” the department added. (This is all lies and a scam to get your personal information.)
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According to the DSWD, individuals in need of help can seek aid through their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, which provides a variety of financial support, including medical assistance, burial, transportation, education, food, or financial assistance for other support services or needs of a person or family.
According to the AICS website, to avail of the assistance, a person must go personally to the nearest DSWD office in his/her area and submit required documents to process his/her request. Required documents vary depending on the type of assistance needed.
Phishing risk: A scan of the link in VirusTotal, a free anti-malware website owned by Google, revealed that the link was flagged as malicious by two of its security vendors. Kaspersky and Yandex Safebrowsing detected phishing threats. Clicking the link may put individuals at risk of having their sensitive personal information stolen. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)
Old claim: In June 2023, Rappler debunked a similar claim containing a fake link to the unemployment financial aid. (READ: FACT CHECK: No online link for unemployment financial aid – DSWD)
Other fact checks: Rappler has fact-checked several posts from pages and websites posing as the DSWD:
- FACT CHECK: Peke ang link para sa P7,000 DSWD educational cash grant
- FACT CHECK: Walang link para sa DSWD AKAP cash assistance
- FACT CHECK: Online DSWD page linking to aid form for education is fake
- FACT CHECK: DSWD has no program offering ‘immediate’ cash aid
- FACT CHECK: DSWD has no scholarship program with P6,500 cash allowance
Official news: For official updates, refer to DSWD’s official website, and its social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube. – Ailla Dela Cruz/Rappler.com
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.