India's highest court has issued a new public warning about a fraudulent website impersonating its official portal. This phishing scam is designed to steal your personal and financial data, highlighting a persistent and growing online threat.
An Urgent Warning from the Top Court
The Supreme
Court of India's Registry issued a public advisory on November 3, 2026, flagging a malicious website with the URL 'scigovinjudicial.com'. The advisory warns that this website is a near-identical clone of the court's official portal, created by cybercriminals to deceive the public. The primary goal of this fake site is to trick individuals into giving up sensitive information, such as personal details, online banking credentials, and other confidential data. The court clarified that its only official and registered domain is 'sci.gov.in'. Any other variation is fraudulent. This is not the first time the Supreme Court has had to issue such a warning; it follows several similar advisories against other fake websites in 2025 and 2026, indicating a recurring and serious problem.
How This Phishing Scam Works
The scam is a classic case of phishing, a technique where criminals masquerade as a trustworthy entity to steal information. In this instance, they have built a website that perfectly mimics the look and feel of the real Supreme Court website. Unsuspecting users, including litigants, lawyers, or the general public searching for case details or court orders, might land on this fraudulent site. Once there, they may be prompted to enter personal information. The sophistication of these scams lies in their ability to exploit public trust in government and judicial institutions. By using official-looking logos, layouts, and domain names that sound legitimate, scammers create a false sense of security to lure victims into a trap.
The Broader Threat of Impersonation
This incident is part of a larger trend of cybercriminals impersonating Indian government agencies. Fraudsters have been known to pose as officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), and local police to execute so-called 'digital arrest' scams, extorting huge sums of money by creating panic and fear. These criminals use social engineering—manipulating human psychology—to exploit emotions like fear or a sense of urgency. They might threaten legal action or create a fake emergency to pressure victims into making rash decisions. According to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), phishing attacks and incidents of government impersonation have been on a significant rise, costing citizens crores of rupees.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Data
The Supreme Court's advisory includes clear instructions on how to stay safe. First and foremost, never click on suspicious links received via email or messaging apps. Always doublecheck the URL in your browser's address bar to ensure you are on the official 'sci.gov.in' website. A useful tip is to hover your mouse over a link before clicking to see the full URL path. Be wary of slight misspellings or extra words in the domain name. The Supreme Court has explicitly stated that it never solicits personal information, financial details, or passwords from the public online. If you receive any communication asking for such details, treat it as fraudulent. If you suspect you have already fallen victim to this scam, the advisory urges you to immediately change the passwords for all your online accounts and contact your bank to report any potential unauthorised access.
What to Do If You Spot a Scam
Reporting such incidents is crucial to help authorities track and combat these criminal networks. The Government of India has established a national helpline number, 1930, for reporting financial cyber fraud. It is recommended to call this number as quickly as possible, especially if you have lost money. You can also file a formal complaint online through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at 'cybercrime.gov.in'. Providing screenshots and any other evidence you have can help in the investigation. Every report filed helps authorities identify patterns, block fraudulent accounts, and protect others from becoming victims.
