31-08-2023 : Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, issued a cautionary warning on Thursday to lawyers and litigants regarding a fraudulent website that imitates the Supreme Court, aimed at phishing attacks. He urged individuals to exercise caution when engaging in monetary transactions online and to be vigilant against falling victim to such deceptive tactics.
This alert from the Chief Justice comes in response to the emergence of a bogus website masquerading as the official Supreme Court website, specifically designed to carry out phishing attacks. In light of this fraudulent activity, the Supreme Court has promptly released a public notice advising the general public to exercise caution and restraint, refraining from clicking on or sharing any website links until their authenticity has been verified.
During a hearing of a constitutional bench that was addressing petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370, Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the significance of avoiding engagement with the fake website. He underlined the risks involved, urging individuals not to utilize the platform for financial transactions.
The official notice circulated by the Supreme Court explains the nature of the phishing attack and provides guidance on protective measures. The fraudulent website, operating under a deceptive URL, is soliciting personal and confidential information from visitors. The court’s notice unequivocally advises against sharing any private, sensitive, or confidential data, as divulging such information could potentially lead to the theft of personal data.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court clarified that its official Registry does not solicit personal or financial details, nor does it seek any other form of confidential information from individuals. The notice aims to raise awareness about the authentic domain name used by the Supreme Court, namely www.sci.gov.in, and advises individuals to ensure the legitimacy of URLs before clicking on them. Hovering over a URL is recommended as a preliminary measure to verify its authenticity.
In the unfortunate event that someone falls victim to this phishing attack, the notice provides guidance on how to respond. It recommends immediately altering passwords for all online accounts and contacting relevant institutions such as banks or credit card companies to report any unauthorized access.
Taking a proactive stance, the Registry of the Supreme Court has taken note of the phishing attack and has alerted law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. This step aims to identify and apprehend the culprits responsible for perpetrating the fraudulent activity.