FACT CHECK: PCSO scholarship application reel is fake, leads to phishing websites

Claim: The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) scholarship program, circulating from an unofficial source, promotes applications through an online registration form.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: MSWD News Update, a Facebook page with over 35,000 followers, is claiming in their circulating post that PCSO’s scholarship program is calling for applicants to register through a link in the caption. The viral reel resembling a news report has gathered more than 9,900 reactions; 2,000 comments; and 3,800 shares since it was posted on Tuesday, December 2.

In the reel, the anchor invites parents to register their children to the scholarship program to receive a P100,000 yearly allowance and a free cellphone with one year’s worth of load. He leads them to the caption for the registration link.

The comments section was swamped with messages from parents and grandparents eager to have their children and grandchildren apply for the program. The caption included two links, both of which were shortened and which obscure the actual websites they lead to.

The facts: The reel is likely to contain AI-generated content based on Hive Moderation’s analysis, which returned a 99.9% rating. Meanwhile, the application links cited in the caption redirect users to phishing websites.

The post also failed to disclose its use of AI-generated visuals. A clear giveaway is the series of misspelled words on the video’s on-screen text — something legitimate media outlets take great care to avoid. These kinds of errors are common in AI-generated content and reflect current limitations in the technology.

Educational assistance: While PCSO currently provides educational assistance for low-income college students, it is not a formal, charter-mandated program. In the 2023 PCSO Citizen’s Charter (page 258), educational assistance is listed under “Donations & Contributions (Grants and Subsidies)” with requirements — a request letter addressed to the Chairman, General Manager, and Board of Directors, proof of enrollment, updated statement of account/school fees, a copy of the student ID, and a whole-body photo of the student. 

The charter does not specify an official submission portal, though contacting a PCSO office might provide guidance. Applicants are advised to be cautious because using unverified submission channels could put them at risk, especially given the prevalence of phishing links circulating online.

Beware of phishing sites: All the links cited in the post lead to websites hosting a registration form labeled “PCSO Contact Center” and “PCSO Scholarship Program Online Registration,” with the PCSO logo displayed in the center banner. 

According to Nord VPN’s link scanner, the URLs show no signs of malicious activity, though the tool advises users to remain vigilant while browsing.

The forms request the applicant’s name, address, contact details, school, and grade level — information commonly targeted in phishing schemes designed to extract personal data. Moreover, the PCSO has not endorsed any third-party registration websites. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)

Rappler has also rated related fact-checks about phishing scams:

• FACT CHECK: Links for DOST scholarship online application lead to phishing websites
• FACT CHECK: Registration links for PWD cash aid lead to phishing, shopping sites
• FACT CHECK: Registration links for ‘Christmas bonus’ payouts lead to phishing site
• FACT CHECK: News report on student cash incentives with 5kg rice is AI-generated

Official Accounts: For reliable information on government programs and services, rely only on official websites and verified social media accounts. Posts claiming that government agencies collect registration details or offer giveaways through links not issued by their official accounts are a common form of misleading content and phishing schemes. – Princess Leah Sagaad/Rappler.com

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.