FACT CHECK: DSWD ‘Christmas bonus’ post, registration form are fake

Claim: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced that Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries can receive a P4,500 Christmas bonus by filling out a registration form.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The post by the Facebook page “4ps pay out All Region” has garnered 42 reactions, 67 shares, and 60 comments as of writing. It was also reshared to several Facebook groups with up to 200,000 members.

Presenting itself as a “DSWD Announcement,” the post claims that 4Ps and Landbank beneficiaries are eligible to receive a Christmas bonus, but only if they fill out a registration form through the link provided in the post. They will then receive a message on how to claim the supposed bonus.

The facts: In an email to Rappler, the DSWD Agency Operations Service said that it “does not provide important announcements to the public regarding the Department’s programs and services on any unofficial social media platform.”

This is not the first time the DSWD has warned the public against Christmas-related scams. In a November 30 post on its official Facebook page, the social welfare department refuted false claims that it was giving away P7,000 Christmas cash gifts to those who answered a survey questionnaire. 

The DSWD has also debunked other posts instructing users to fill out fake forms with their personal information in order to receive cash assistance. The department does not request such information online because it violates the Data Privacy Act.

Malware and phishing risk: The link provided in the post’s caption leads to a blog page, not the DSWD website or any official government website.

Link checker Virus Total flagged the link in the false post as a possible phishing attempt. Filling out the form may pose risks to users’ personal and financial information. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)

Previous fact-checks: Rappler has debunked multiple false claims about DSWD cash assistance and payouts posted by dubious Facebook pages:

• FACT CHECK: ‘Unemployment financial assistance’ link is a scam – DSWD
• FACT CHECK: Application link for DSWD food stamp program posted by fake page
• FACT CHECK: Spliced news clip used in fake ‘DSWD cash aid’ video
• FACT CHECK: 4Ps payout schedule circulating online is unofficial, with fake links
• FACT CHECK: Online DSWD form for education aid is fake 

For legitimate updates about the DSWD’s programs and services, visit its website and official accounts on X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. – Shay Du/Rappler.com

Shay Du is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.