The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has issued a public warning urging Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families to be cautious of individuals pretending to be OWWA employees or representatives in exchange for money or faster processing of benefits.
In a post shared on its official social media pages, OWWA emphasized that “no official or employee of OWWA is authorized to collect payment for any transaction or service.” The agency added that legitimate OWWA personnel do not conduct private transactions or request “processing fees” through chat, email, or messaging platforms.
The warning came after fake identification cards and fraudulent online messages surfaced, including one showing a bogus OWWA ID under the name “Lex R. Pineda.” The agency labeled such materials as FAKE, reminding the public to rely only on verified communication channels and regional offices for any assistance.
OWWA advised OFWs to report suspicious messages, calls, or emails claiming to be from the agency and to avoid sharing personal information or sending money. Concerns can be directly reported through the OWWA Hotline 1348, via Messenger at Owwa Opc, email at owwacares@owwa.gov.ph, or through official Viber numbers (+63 915 079 5005, +63 969 169 7068, +63 966 473 9543).
For regional inquiries, OWWA encouraged the public to consult its official directory at https://bit.ly/OWWA-RegionalDirectory.
