The Supreme Court of India's Registry has issued an urgent public advisory about a fraudulent website designed to impersonate its official portal. This scam aims to trick users into revealing sensitive personal and financial information.
The Official Warning and Fake Domain
In a public notice
dated November 3, 2026, the Supreme Court Registry identified a new fraudulent domain: 'scigovinjudicial.com'. The advisory explicitly states that this website is impersonating the court's official online presence. This is not an isolated incident; it follows a series of similar warnings issued since 2023 against various deceptive domains aiming to clone the court's website. The goal of these fake sites is to defraud the public through sophisticated phishing attacks, where cybercriminals solicit confidential data under the guise of official communication. The Registry clarified that the one and only official domain for the Supreme Court of India is 'sci.gov.in'.
How the Phishing Scam Operates
Phishing scams like this one rely on creating a sense of legitimacy and urgency. The fraudulent website is meticulously designed to look like the real Supreme Court portal. Cybercriminals then use this fake site to ask for sensitive information, such as personal details, financial credentials, and login passwords. These requests might be framed as necessary for a case, a penalty payment, or updating records. However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly clarified that it never seeks personal information, financial details, or other confidential data through its website. Any communication or website that asks for such information is a major red flag.
Key Red Flags to Identify the Scam
Vigilance is your first line of defence. Always check the website URL in your browser's address bar. The official site is 'sci.gov.in'. Any variation, no matter how minor, is a sign of a fake. The fraudulent domain 'scigovinjudicial.com' is a clear example. Be wary of unsolicited emails or messages containing links that claim to be from the court. A helpful security practice is to hover your mouse over any link before clicking to see the actual destination URL. Furthermore, look for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or unprofessional design on the website. Official government portals typically maintain a high standard of quality. Finally, any request for immediate payment or disclosure of bank account details, credit card numbers, or login credentials should be treated as fraudulent.
What to Do If You Have Been Targeted
If you suspect you have visited the fraudulent site or shared any information, it is crucial to act immediately. First, change the passwords for all your important online accounts, especially for banking and email. This prevents criminals from using any stolen credentials to access other services. Second, contact your bank and financial institutions immediately to report any potential unauthorised access to your accounts. They can monitor for suspicious activity and take steps to secure your finances. It is vital to report the incident to the authorities to help them track and shut down these operations.
How to Report Fraudulent Websites in India
The Government of India has established official channels for reporting cybercrime. The primary resource is the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, which can be found at 'cybercrime.gov.in'. You can file a detailed complaint about the fraudulent website here, and it is recommended to provide as much evidence as possible, such as screenshots and the fake URL. For financial frauds, you can also call the national helpline number, 1930, to report the incident immediately. Reporting not only helps in your own case but also contributes to a larger effort to protect other citizens from falling victim to the same scam.
