In an era of rising online fraud, telling a real government website from a fake one is crucial. The Supreme Court of India has issued a key advisory to help you stay safe, clarifying the one and only domain it uses for all official communication.
The Court's Urgent Phishing Alert
The Supreme
Court has repeatedly warned the public about fraudulent websites that impersonate its official portal to trick people into giving away sensitive information. In a recent advisory on November 3, 2026, the court's registry identified a new fake website, 'scigovinjudicial.com', as part of a targeted phishing operation. The court clarified that it will never ask for personal details, financial information, or passwords online. The only genuine and official domain for the Supreme Court of India is sci.gov.in. Any variation, no matter how convincing it looks, is fraudulent.
Decoding Official Indian Web Addresses
Understanding how official web addresses are structured is your first line of defense. In India, websites belonging to government bodies are given specific domains to mark them as authentic. The primary domain used is '.gov.in', which stands for 'government of India'. For example, the Supreme Court's website is sci.gov.in, where 'sci' is a subdomain for the Supreme Court. Another common official domain is '.nic.in', used by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which develops and hosts many government sites. Any website that does not end with these official domains, or uses deceptive variations, should be treated with extreme caution.
The Anatomy of a Phishing Scam
Phishing scams have become increasingly sophisticated. Cybercriminals create websites that are nearly identical clones of official portals, complete with logos and official-looking text. They then send emails or text messages with links to these fake sites, often creating a sense of urgency—claiming you need to pay a fine, update your details, or receive a refund. The goal is to harvest your confidential data, such as usernames, passwords, bank account numbers, or Aadhaar details, which can then be used for financial theft or identity fraud. The Supreme Court's repeated warnings highlight how serious and frequent these attempts have become.
How to Verify and Stay Safe
Protecting yourself requires vigilance. First, always check the URL carefully before clicking. The domain should end exactly in '.gov.in' or '.nic.in'. Be wary of addresses like 'sci.gov.in.something-else.com', as the true domain owner is 'something-else.com'. Instead of clicking links in messages, type the official address directly into your browser or use the official Government of India Web Directory to find the site you need. The Supreme Court advisory specifically recommends hovering your mouse over any link to see the destination URL before you click. Remember, no legitimate government agency will ever ask you for your ATM PIN, CVV, or UPI PIN online.
What to Do If You Suspect a Scam
If you encounter a suspicious website or believe you may have fallen victim to a scam, it's important to act quickly. Do not enter any information on the suspicious site. If you have, immediately change the passwords for your online accounts, especially for banking and email. You should also notify your bank about any potential unauthorised access. Furthermore, you can and should report the incident to the authorities. The Government of India has a dedicated National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in, where you can file a complaint. For financial fraud, there is also a national helpline number, 1930, to report incidents promptly.
