DSWD warns public vs scam offering iPhone 15, cash

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warned on Tuesday against a scam telling unsuspecting people that they won a brand new iPhone 15 and a cash prize, allegedly as part of the agency’s 85th founding anniversary celebration.

DSWD spokesperson Romel Lopez debunked claims of any such rewards supposedly to be given by the agency to mark its anniversary and urged the public not to entertain such messages.

In a Facebook post, the DSWD said it was aware of the messages being spread among Messenger users that there was a link being sent to various users.

If the user was able to complete the survey, which can be accessed through the link, the respondent will supposedly be able to get the brand new iPhone 15 as well as a “cash prize” that had no amount.

The survey link was allegedly part of the DSWD’s 85th anniversary. But the DSWD denied having to do with the survey link.

“Any services outside the DSWD programs are impossible to just give away prizes that easy,” Lopez said. “We are asking the public to refrain from subscribing to these bogus accounts since all our programs are coursed through proper venues like cash card payout or actual payout and not through an online raffle type.”

He also advised the public to rely only on the DSWD’s official Facebook page (facebook.com/dswdserves) and through its X (formerly Twitter) account @dswdserves.