The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warned the public anew against individuals pretending to be connected with the Department and promising to provide financial aid, medical assistance, and other services of the Agency, without the assessment of its social workers.

This, after the recent incident in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, where a person, who allegedly posed as an employee of the DSWD, run away with the collected donations intended for the treatment of the newborn conjoined twins in the area.

According to the report, after the father of the twin posted the situation of his newborn twin to social media, the poser contacted him and promised that the DSWD will shoulder the entire amount of the twin’s surgery.

In exchange, the poser then asked the one-time-pin (OTP) of the online mobile wallet application, where the collection for the donations were lodged, which the father obliged.

Later did the father realize that he was scammed by a poser, who run away with more than Php50,000 worth of donations that the family had collected for the twin’s medication.

The DSWD strongly reminded the public to be vigilant in giving out personal information and to not entertain individuals, especially those who communicate through online platforms and/or mobile phone calls, identifying themselves to be officials or employees of the Department promising assistance or help.

The DSWD condemns this act and assured the public that it is currently investigating the pilfering of the donations to determine if the concerned individual is an employee of or connected with the Agency.

Meanwhile, the Department, through its Field Office XI, has coordinated with the family of the conjoined twins and has extended Php 5,000 financial assistance as an initial response, under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, for the treatment of the newborn twins.

Also, the DSWD continues to coordinate with the family for other services that they may need for the hospitalization and operation of the twins.

The DSWD reiterated that individuals in crisis situation who are seeking medical, burial, transportation, and educational assistance, among others, must proceed to the nearest DSWD Field or Satellite Office in their area for proper assessment and assistance to the agency’s AICS program. ###