A Facebook page made multiple posts claiming that the Department of Education (DepEd) distributes P8,000 cash assistance to students at all levels, including those enrolled in Technical Education and Skills Development Authority programs and the alternative learning system. This is fake.
DepEd, through several posts on its official Facebook page, warned against similar scams circulating since last year. This has been a ploy to get user’s personal and contact information.
On Feb. 18, a sock puppet Facebook account bearing the DepEd logo listed one of the steps to register for the supposed assistance:
“Maghintay Ng TEXT para Sa Schedule Ng Payout. (Wait for a text for the schedule of the next payout.)”
In a Nov. 15, 2024 advisory, the agency cautioned, “DepEd will NEVER send you clickable links via SMS messages.”
DepEd reminded the public to refer only to their official social media pages and website for accurate information and announcements.
VERA Files previously flagged and debunked similar scams, particularly fake posts on ‘DepEd scholarships’ and cash aid for graduating students.
Facebook page Philippine Scholarship (created Nov. 18, 2024) spams promotional posts for the same scam, with the most recent one garnering over 70 shares and 42 comments as of writing. The page currently has more than 300 likes and followers.
