These pages are not authorized to represent the Program
In a country where smallholder farmers depend on their livestock for survival, the Bureau of Animal Industry has sounded an alarm about a quieter threat layered beneath the African Swine Fever crisis itself: fraudulent social media accounts impersonating the government's prevention program and exploiting the desperation of those already under siege. The scheme—promoting unauthorized feed products under the guise of official guidance—reminds us that misinformation does not merely mislead; it preys on vulnerability at its most acute. Citizens are urged to seek truth only through verified channels, as the line between genuine help and harmful deception grows harder to see.
- Two fake social media pages—'ASF Biosecurity & Control Center' and 'Livestock Biosecurity & ASF Prevention Alliance'—are impersonating the Philippine government's official swine fever program, with no legitimate connection to it whatsoever.
- The fraudulent accounts are actively promoting unauthorized animal feed products to farmers already desperate for solutions as ASF outbreaks spread across multiple regions, including Bacolod City and Negros Oriental.
- Beyond false product claims, the scam puts personal data at risk—anyone who engages with these pages may be handing sensitive information directly to bad actors.
- The Bureau of Animal Industry is investigating the operators behind the fake accounts and has explicitly stated that the NASFPCP does not endorse any commercial feed products or vendor partnerships.
- Official communications exist only through verified accounts at facebook.com/nasfpcp, twitter.com/nasfpcp, and instagram.com/nasfpcp—the public is urged to verify before engaging with any other source.
The Bureau of Animal Industry issued an urgent public warning on Thursday, alerting Filipino farmers and citizens to fraudulent social media accounts falsely presenting themselves as the government's National African Swine Fever Prevention and Control Program. The fake pages were not merely spreading misinformation—they were actively promoting unauthorized animal feed products under the cover of official authority, exploiting the very real anxiety surrounding a disease that has already devastated livestock operations across the Philippines.
Two pages were specifically identified as fraudulent: 'ASF Biosecurity & Control Center' and 'Livestock Biosecurity & ASF Prevention Alliance.' Neither has any affiliation with the NASFPCP, which operates under the Department of Agriculture and does not endorse commercial feed products or partner with vendors on social media. The BAI is now investigating who is behind the accounts and how they are being used.
The danger is not limited to bad agricultural advice. Farmers who engage with these pages risk exposing personal information to unknown actors—a serious concern in communities where trust in official guidance is already strained. The BAI urged the public to avoid all contact with these accounts and to report suspicious activity.
With new ASF cases emerging in regions including Bacolod City and parts of Negros Oriental, the timing of the alert is particularly pressing. The agency reminded the public that verified information can only be found through the program's official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram, all accessible under the handle @nasfpcp. In a crisis, the ability to distinguish genuine help from exploitation may matter as much as the help itself.
On Thursday, the Bureau of Animal Industry issued a public alert about fraudulent social media accounts masquerading as the government's swine fever prevention program. The fake pages were claiming official status while promoting unauthorized animal feed products—a scheme designed to exploit farmers' concerns about African Swine Fever, which has devastated livestock operations across the Philippines.
The National African Swine Fever Prevention and Control Program, or NASFPCP, operates under the Department of Agriculture. It does not endorse any commercial feed products, nor does it partner with vendors hawking solutions through social channels. The BAI made this distinction explicit because the imposter accounts were blurring that line, creating confusion about what the government actually recommends.
Two pages were specifically flagged as fraudulent: one called "ASF Biosecurity & Control Center" and another named "Livestock Biosecurity & ASF Prevention Alliance." Neither has any connection to the official program. The BAI is investigating who operates these accounts and how they are being used to spread false information.
The risk extends beyond misinformation about feed. People who engage with these fake pages risk exposing personal information to bad actors. The BAI urged the public to avoid contacting these accounts, sharing details, or trusting their claims. In a country where agricultural livelihoods depend on livestock health, such scams prey on real anxiety—farmers desperate for solutions to a genuine threat.
The agency provided the legitimate channels where citizens can find verified information: the official NASFPCP Facebook page at facebook.com/nasfpcp, its Twitter/X account at twitter.com/nasfpcp, and Instagram at instagram.com/nasfpcp. These are the only social media presences authorized to speak for the program. The warning came as several regions, including Bacolod City and towns in Negros Oriental, were reporting new cases of African Swine Fever, making the timing of the alert particularly urgent. Farmers and the public need reliable guidance now, not false promises from imposters.
Citações Notáveis
We urge the public to be cautious, as these pages are not authorized to represent the Program. We are actively investigating these activities and monitoring misinformation that undermines our initiatives.— Bureau of Animal Industry
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why would someone bother creating fake accounts for a government animal health program? What's the angle?
Feed companies and scammers see an opening. When farmers are scared—and ASF is genuinely terrifying for them—they're willing to buy anything that promises protection. A fake account claiming government backing gives false credibility to whatever product they're pushing.
So it's not just misinformation for its own sake. There's money in it.
Exactly. And it works because the real program doesn't sell anything. The government's job is to prevent and control the disease, not to profit from it. The fakes exploit that gap.
How many people do you think fell for it before the warning?
We don't know. The BAI didn't say. But they're investigating now, which suggests the accounts had enough activity to catch their attention. Probably enough to cause real damage.
What happens to someone who gave these accounts their personal information?
That's the scary part. They could be targeted for follow-up scams, their data could be sold, or worse. The BAI is warning people now, but the damage may already be done for some.