FACT CHECK: Post linking to CHED-UniFAST scholarship application is fake

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CHED has advised the public to only refer to its official media channels for information on educational financial assistance amid the prevalence of fake pages

Claim: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED)’s Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) is accepting applications for its scholarship program.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim was posted on April 24 by a Facebook page named “PRC Board and Exam Results,” which has over 26,000 followers. The post has since garnered around 2,800 reactions, 2,700 comments, and 11,000 shares, with the comments section filled with aspirants eager to apply for the scholarship by asking questions about the process. 

According to the post, the alleged scholarship offers P120,000 for students enrolled in private schools and P80,000 for those in public schools, along with free uniforms, school supplies, and a P10,000 monthly allowance. It also used graphics with the official logo of CHED. However, the post does not specify eligibility requirements clearly, and the supposed registration links are repeatedly posted.

The facts: The registration links in the posts are fake. Neither CHED nor UniFAST has announced any open call for applications matching the description provided in the misleading post. Official announcements from CHED and UniFAST are released only through their verified websites and social media channels. 

Additionally, the Facebook page behind the post, which has a history of sharing fraudulent scholarship grants while describing itself as a fan page of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), is not an official platform authorized to endorse scholarships. The links shared in the post do not match any official PRC, CHED, or UniFAST websites.

Fake links: Upon inspection, the registration form associated with the post collects users’ full names and contact information. Notably, the form is titled “PRC JOB HIRING 2024” with a subheading, “DepEd list of schools with No Grade 11.”

However, multiple users report that after filling out the form, the “submit” button is unclickable, effectively making it impossible to complete the process.

Further inspection shows that some links shared in the post redirect users to suspicious third-party platforms, raising concerns over phishing attempts designed to harvest private and sensitive information. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)

About UniFAST: UniFAST is an attached agency of the CHED mandated to implement Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

According to the CHED website, UniFAST “reconciles, improves, strengthens, expands, and puts under one body all government-funded modalities of Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) for tertiary education — and special purpose education assistance — in both public and private institutions.”

Fake scholarships: On March 26, CHED released a public advisory warning against unofficial accounts impersonating CHED and UniFAST to spread fraudulent information about scholarships and financial assistance programs. CHED emphasized that unauthorized use of its name and logo is illegal and that legitimate announcements will only be made through official channels.

Rappler has fact-checked several claims of fake scholarship programs linked to CHED and UniFAST, most of which were posted by fake pages attempting to collect personal information through potential phishing attempts.

• FACT CHECK: Education subsidy application links not from CHED-UniFAST
• FACT CHECK: Link for CHED-UniFast scholarship is fake
• FACT CHECK: Link for ‘CHED scholarship program’ posted by fake DSWD page
• FACT CHECK: Link for ‘CHED Scholarship Program 2024’ is fake
• FACT CHECK: Link for CHED P5,000 cash aid for all graduating students is fake

 – Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com 

Efren Cyril Bocar is a student journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar, enrolled in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. A managing editor of Amaranth, Cyril is a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024. 

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