DSWD Clarifies: No Christmas Bonus for 4Ps Beneficiaries

Philippine welfare officials are warning thousands of low-income families about a wave of online scams falsely promising Christmas bonus payments through the government’s poverty reduction program.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has detected numerous fraudulent Facebook posts targeting beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, commonly known as 4Ps, which provides conditional cash transfers to the country’s most vulnerable households.

“The DSWD has received reports of social media posts announcing a Christmas bonus for 4Ps beneficiaries,” said Social Welfare Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao in a statement issued this week. “This is not true and might be a mechanism of online scammers to get the private information of our beneficiaries.”

Officials believe the scammers are using the fabricated bonus announcements to harvest personal data from unsuspecting program participants. The fraudulent posts typically include links that prompt users to provide sensitive information or download malicious content.

The 4Ps program serves as a financial lifeline for millions of impoverished Filipino families. Through the program, qualifying households receive monthly stipends in exchange for meeting certain conditions, such as ensuring their children attend school and receive regular health check-ups. The program has become a cornerstone of the Philippine government’s anti-poverty strategy since its implementation.

Dumlao, who also serves as the DSWD’s Data Protection Officer, emphasized that the department adheres strictly to the country’s data privacy laws. “The DSWD will never post a beneficiary’s details in compliance with Republic Act 10173 or the 2012 Data Privacy Act,” she explained.

The warning comes amid rising concerns about digital scams targeting vulnerable populations across the Philippines. Government programs like 4Ps have increasingly become targets for fraudsters who exploit the financial desperation of low-income households, particularly during the holiday season when many families struggle with additional expenses.

“We urge everyone to be on the lookout for any false information and not to share your private information on social media,” Dumlao cautioned. She reminded beneficiaries that legitimate communications about the program would only come through official channels—specifically municipal and city coordinators known as “links,” or through the verified social media accounts of the DSWD and the 4Ps program.

The department’s warning is part of its broader “Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon” (Right Help Through Right Information) campaign, an initiative designed to combat misinformation about government welfare services. The campaign aims to establish clear communication channels between the department and program beneficiaries while teaching recipients how to identify potential scams.

Cybersecurity experts note that government assistance programs worldwide have increasingly become targets for sophisticated phishing operations. The timing of these scams often coincides with anticipated government payouts or during periods of financial stress like holidays, when recipients may be more susceptible to promises of additional benefits.

“If you come across any posts, announcements, or news about the DSWD that did not come from the department’s official sources, you may report it to us,” Dumlao advised. “Let us work together in stopping fake news that only causes confusion.”

The department has established multiple channels for reporting suspicious activities related to its programs and services, including the Integrated Grievance Redress Management System available online and through the official 4Ps Facebook page.

As the Christmas season approaches, officials are urging heightened vigilance among program beneficiaries and encouraging community leaders to help spread awareness about these scams to protect vulnerable citizens.