FACT CHECK: No online link for unemployment financial aid – DSWD

Claim: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) posted a link to an online registration form offering unemployment financial assistance.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: Links to the purported online registration form have been spreading on Facebook and Messenger. A quick search on Facebook shows that the topic is being discussed by around 13,000 people as of writing.

Upon clicking the link, users are redirected to a website purporting to be from the DSWD, where they will be asked to answer a questionnaire for a chance to receive a P7,000 cash aid.

The bottom line: The website that offers the supposed subsidy is fake. The official website of the DSWD is www.dswd.gov.ph.

On further inspection, the address of the fake website is merely a string of letters and numbers with no reference to the DSWD, suggesting that the link could be a phishing site intended to obtain sensitive personal information from a user.

On Tuesday, June 27, the social welfare department posted an advisory on its official and verified Facebook page clarifying that the website making the rounds online is not affiliated with the agency. It also reminded the public to beware of online scams from fake DSWD websites.

“​​Huwag mag-click ng kahit anumang link na ipinapadala sa inyong Messenger na hindi galing sa official Facebook page ng DSWD,” the post read. (Do not click on any link sent through Messenger that did not come from the official Facebook page of DSWD). 

There have been no official announcements from the DSWD or news reports about the supposed unemployment financial assistance. 

Previous false claims: Rappler has previously debunked claims from dubious websites claiming to offer financial aid from the DSWD:

• FACT CHECK: DSWD does not provide cash assistance for completing SIM card registration
• FALSE: Online registration for P2,000 monthly gov’t aid for mothers
• FALSE: DSWD posts online link for financial aid

To avoid getting misled by fake pages, visit the DSWD’s official website and official Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube accounts. – Owenh Jake Toledo/Rappler.com

Owenh Jake Toledo 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. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.