PCSO DISMISSES BREACH REPORT ON DATABASE OF LOTTO WINNERS

PCSO warned against fake news following the circulation of false reports claiming that the agency’s database had been hacked by an obscure group of hackers (Photo courtesy of Philippine Exodus Security/Facebook)

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) denied social media speculation that its database of lotto winners was supposedly hacked. Pointing out that the systems and sites of the government-owned and controlled corporation are secure.

“This is fake news. There was no breach nor any successful attempt to hack the systems of PCSO.”

PCSO General Manager Mel Robles in a statement stressed that there was never a breach in any of the official sites or databases of the PCSO. “We have not reported anything to the DICT because nothing has happened.”

A Facebook post claimed thousands of lotto winners’ profiles from 2016 to 2025 have been compromised including names, addresses, phone numbers, IDs, and winning numbers. 

“Looks like the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office never bothered to change their weak-ass password. What a Pathetic. Their mailbox was child's play—compromised over 5 accounts without breaking a sweat,” it claimed.

“Now sitting on thousands of lotto winners’ profiles from 2016 to 2025. Details they thought were safe: names, addresses, phone numbers, IDs, and even winning numbers. All of it. Private info they never wanted public,” it added.

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy said the data posted by the group were historical information. According to him, this data possibly came from a personal account or email and not from the PCSO’s system.

GM Robles clarify that none of their accounts was attacked or compromised, adding that what the post was simply saying is that the group was able to obtain email accounts of PCSO employees, most probably the email accounts of branch office personnel.

“Our database for the lotto jackpot winners is safe in the head office. The branch offices are not connected to the head office. None of our websites are compromised, breached, or hacked,” Robles stressed.

Source: Philippine Information Agency

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