Two Facebook posts claim the Department of Social Welfare and Development is accepting online applications for Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program. These are fake.
Published on April 11, the spurious posts bore a logo of DSWD along with texts that read:
“AKAP DSWD CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
GOOD NEWS!
Sa ilalim ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), may AKAP Cash Assistance Program na maaaring makatulong sa mga pamilyang nangangailangan!
Para sa 4Ps at NON-4Ps
Para sa mga walang hanapbuhay o nangangailangan ng tulong
Maaaring makatanggap ng hanggang ₱10,000 PANG KABUHAYAN
Huwag palampasin!
Mag-fill out ng form at isumite agad para makasali sa listahan ng beneficiaries.
(Under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, there is an AKAP Cash Assistance Program that can help families in need! For 4Ps and NON-4Ps. For those who are unemployed or in need of assistance. You can receive up to ₱10,000 for livelihood. Don’t miss out! Fill out the form and submit immediately to be included in the list of beneficiaries).”
Another post with a different color graphic surfaced the following day, but carried the same caption.
The post includes a link that pretends to be the official website of AKAP. It urges users to fill out the form immediately to be included in the list of beneficiaries.
The AKAP program was defunded in the 2026 budget and no longer exists as a standalone program.
However, former beneficiaries who are in crisis are now being served under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program, which has a budget of ₱63.9 billion.
The DSWD has been consistently warning the public against such posts, emphasizing that it does not use unofficial links or third-party blogging sites for its programs.
DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao clarified that the department does not randomly select beneficiaries through text messages or private chat nor does it ask for sensitive information like one-time passwords through social media links.
Beneficiaries are encouraged to rely only on official websites and social media accounts with verified badges, and to coordinate directly with DSWD field offices or local social welfare offices.
Scammers are exploiting the high-profile, legitimate ₱5,000 cash relief payouts being distributed to thousands of transport workers to create a smoke screen of credibility for their fake AKAP posts targeting the general public.
The fake post published by FB pages PH News Today (created on Nov. 23, 2025) and Education News PH Channel (Oct. 7, 2025) collectively garnered 1,091 reactions; 820 comments; and 334 shares.
