Hacked? Social media users flag PCSO’s obscene Facebook story

December 5, 2023 - 1:00 PM
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PCSO building
File photo showing the building of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (The STAR/Michael Varcas)

The Facebook page of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) shocked followers on Tuesday morning after its Stories posted sexual content.

Some Filipinos on December 5 noticed that the Facebook Stories of the state-run corporation contained a nude photo of a female and pornography content.

“Mukhang na-hack ang PCSO. May mga post sa Story na inappropriate,” a Facebook user who is a member of the group “Philippine I.T. Security Forums” wrote.

“[Na-hacked] ata ang PCSO,” another user commented.

“Bat [ganoon] My Day niyo, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office? #hacked,” wrote another Pinoy with emojis.

As of this writing, the Facebook page of the PCSO is not available.

Its URL, www.facebook.com/pcsoofficialsocialmedia, directs to a page which reads:

“When this happens, it’s usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it’s been deleted,” Facebook’s message reads.

PCSO’s page has 2.4 million followers.

It is where it announces news releases of winners of big lotto games like the Lotto 6/42, the Mega Lotto 6/45, the Super Lotto 6/49 and the Grand Lotto 6/58.

The page also shows a live stream of its lotto draws, which is also available on YouTube.

PCSO is the principal government agency for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services and charities of national character.

It holds and conducts charity sweepstakes, races, and lotteries and engages in health and welfare-related investments, projects, and activities to provide for permanent and continuing sources of funds for its programs.

As of 12 noon, the PCSO said to the Inquirer that it is already looking at the matter and will release a statement in a while.

Last June, the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino was also hacked in a similar manner. Its Facebook Story also showed lewd content, which was blamed on malware.

“Naging biktima ng cyber/network attack, partikular sa malware na sinususpetsang nakapasok sa sistema at may intensyon na dungisan ang pangalang ng KWF sa pamamagitan ng pagpaskil ng larawan na hindi nararapat na matagpuan sa page at hindi kaugnay sa opisyal na gawain ng aming tanggapan,” KWF director-general Marites Barrios-Taran said before.

“Ang malware na ito ay may kakayahang i-bypass ang security protocols na karaniwang hinihingi ng Facebook,” she added.

RELATED: Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino blames malware for lewd Facebook Story