The public is warned against fake political surveys proliferating on social media, a tactic that has recently misled several public officials and candidates vying for positions in the 2025 elections.

The warning was issued by Anton Salvador, spokesperson for reputable polling organizations in the Philippines, who emphasized the dangers posed by fraudulent surveys that distort voter sentiment and undermine public trust.

Salvador cited recent investigations exposing “Hypothesis Philippines” and the “Philippine Research and Opinion Group” as fraudulent entities.

Both are operating exclusively on social media and were found to have no statisticians, spokespersons, transparent methodologies, or physical offices, marking them as illegitimate. Their deceptive tactics include mimicking legitimate surveys to appear credible, which has led to unwitting politicians facing backlash when the truth comes to light.

“These fake surveys are dangerous as they peddle false information, misleading both the public and political candidates,” Salvador said.

“They corrupt the democratic process by distorting the true sentiments of voters, which can have serious consequences, especially during election season.”

Salvador urged authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible for orchestrating these scams, which he described as a calculated effort to exploit the political climate.

He also called on candidates and the public to rely only on legitimate pollsters, listing reputable institutions such as Social Weather Stations, Pulse Asia, Publicus Asia, Ibon Foundation, RPMD Foundation Inc., HKPH-ARC, RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc., and Octa Research.

With the 2025 elections fast approaching, Salvador stressed the importance of vigilance, urging the public to verify the sources of survey data.

He highlighted the role of credible surveys in shaping informed policy and decisions, warning that reliance on fake data could lead to disastrous outcomes for both candidates and voters.

“The integrity of political surveys is crucial to preserving democracy and ensuring informed decision-making,” Salvador said.

He called on all stakeholders to unite in exposing fraudulent practices and safeguarding the electoral process from disinformation campaigns.