The Supreme Court of India has issued an urgent public advisory about a fraudulent website impersonating its official portal. This new warning highlights a persistent phishing threat designed to steal your personal and financial data.
A New Phishing Threat Identified
In an advisory issued
in early November, the Supreme Court Registry alerted the public to a fake website operating under the URL 'scigovinjudicial.com'. The notice confirms this site is a malicious clone of the court's official portal, created by cybercriminals to deceive citizens and harvest their sensitive information. This is not an isolated incident; the court has issued similar warnings in the past regarding other fraudulent domains, indicating an ongoing effort by scammers to exploit public trust in the judiciary. These phishing attempts aim to trick people into surrendering confidential data like bank account numbers, passwords, and other personal credentials.
How the Impersonation Scam Works
The scam relies on creating a sense of legitimacy. Cybercriminals build websites that are nearly identical to the official Supreme Court portal, using its name, logo, and overall design to appear authentic. Unsuspecting visitors who land on these pages are prompted to enter personal and financial details under false pretences. The goal is simple: to steal information that can be used for financial fraud or identity theft. The court has explicitly stated that these fake sites may attempt to solicit your data, and any disclosure could lead to its theft by these perpetrators.
Red Flags: How to Spot a Fake
Your best defense against this type of fraud is vigilance. The Supreme Court's advisory has highlighted several key precautions. First, always verify the website's domain. The one and only official website for the Supreme Court of India is 'sci.gov.in'. Any other variation, no matter how convincing it looks, is fraudulent. Before clicking on any link, hover your cursor over it to preview the destination URL. Scammers often use URLs with minor misspellings or extra words to trick you. Most importantly, remember that the Supreme Court will never ask you for personal banking details, passwords, or other confidential financial information through its website or any other unsolicited communication.
What to Do If You're Targeted
If you encounter a suspicious website or believe you may have fallen victim to a phishing attempt, it is crucial to act quickly. The Registry advises anyone who suspects their information has been compromised to immediately change the passwords for all their online accounts. The next step is to notify your bank to report any potential unauthorised access and secure your accounts from illicit transfers. To report the crime itself, you should file a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at 'cybercrime.gov.in' or call the national helpline number, 1930. This ensures the incident is logged with law enforcement agencies who can investigate the threat.
