Bogus Facebook (FB) pages and groups uploaded registration forms to avail of a scholarship program supposedly offered by the Social Security System (SSS). These are fake.
The SSS has no ongoing scholarship program and the graphics were posted by publishers not affiliated with the agency.
As early as Jan. 17, several posts circulated online encouraging netizens to apply for “SSS’s” full scholarship in various school levels. One of the circulating posts bore the logo of the state-run social insurance program and the text:
“SSS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 2024. FULL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WITH ALLOWANCE: COLLEGE – P10,000, SENIOR HIGHSCHOOL – P8,000, JUNIOR HIGHSCHOOL – P6,000, ELEMENTARY – P4,000. Deadline of Application: January 20, 2024. APPLY NOW!”
The scams also carried links to a website where the public can supposedly apply. Several netizens were deceived and asked for more details in the comment section.
In a Jan. 18 advisory, the SSS disowned the posts and warned netizens of scams that collect personal information. A part of the statement read:
“Walang ongoing scholarship program ang Social Security System para sa mga miyembro at benepisyaryo nito, o maging sa publiko. Huwag maniwala sa mga balita, post o private messages sa social media na nag-aalok nito
(The Social Security System does not have an ongoing scholarship program for its members and beneficiaries nor the public. Do not believe in news, posts or private messages in social media that offer such).”
The bogus website (prc-board.com) has a form that gathers netizens’ personal information including their email addresses and passwords to register. It also contains advertisements that lead to e-commerce sites. The official website of SSS is at sss.gov.ph.
Another impostor website that promises netizens cash and giveaways was earlier debunked by the agency.
The scams surfaced around the same time SSS issued reminders for pensioners of their duties.
Scholarship scams imitating government and private agencies in the Philippines are not new.
(Read Multiple FB posts share FAKE Landbank scholarship offers)
There are at least 21 public posts of the fake registrations posted in FB groups such as 4ps Nationwide updates (created on Sept. 27, 2021), PRC Board (Dec. 21, 2022 as PRC BOARD EXAMINATIONS AND UPDATES) and PRC Updates (Aug. 18, 2021). These posts garnered at least 3,596 interactions according to CrowdTangle.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)