Verify the case independently before opening a payment link or sending money. A WhatsApp message is not automatically fake, because courts may permit electronic service under applicable rules and directions. But a message claiming to be a summons does not prove that its sender, attachment or payment demand is genuine. Preserve it and check the court record through official channels.
What details should a verification check compare?
Note the court name, case number, year, parties, hearing date and any CNR. Compare those details with the official eCourts service or the relevant court's own website. Navigate to the official service yourself instead of using the link in the message.
The eCourts service provides case searches and information including case history and orders where available. A search result matching the parties is a useful start, but it does not authenticate every attachment sent from an unknown number. Obtain the actual order or summons through the court record where necessary.
If the case cannot be found, check spelling, year and court selection before drawing a conclusion. A new filing or an incomplete online record may require registry confirmation. Use contact details obtained from the official court website, not the suspicious message.
Does electronic service mean I must pay through the supplied link?
No such conclusion follows. Service of a court document and payment of a lawful fee or ordered amount are separate matters. Ask what the payment is said to be for and identify the order or official process requiring it.
A demand to pay immediately to avoid arrest or automatic divorce should be checked urgently, but not obeyed merely because it uses court language. Do not share an OTP, card details or remote access to your device with the sender. Verify any payment through the court's authorised system or the operative order.
If a genuine order requires a deposit, obtain the correct case reference, account or challan process independently. Do not redirect money to a personal UPI address on the strength of an unverified message.
What should I preserve?
- The complete message thread and sender details.
- The original attachment and filename, if safely available.
- The displayed URL without entering credentials or paying.
- The date and time received and any follow-up threats.
- Your independent search results and registry response.
- Transaction details if money has already been sent.
Do not edit the attachment to highlight suspicious text in your only copy. Keep an unaltered version and make a separate working copy for advice. If opening the attachment would create a device-security concern, get appropriate technical help rather than repeatedly testing it.
A genuine case and a fraudulent payment demand can exist together. Someone may use public case details to make a scam more convincing. Therefore, finding the case does not end the payment verification.
What if it is a real summons?
Obtain advice on the response date and required appearance promptly. Do not ignore the document merely because the first delivery looked unusual. The validity of service depends on the governing procedure, authorised method and record, and an objection should be raised properly.
Ask for the petition and supporting documents if they were not supplied. Identify whether the next date is for appearance, response, counselling or another step. A message saying attend court can omit obligations shown in the actual order.
The divorce-notice guide explains responses to legal demands, but a court summons is a different procedural document. The Family Court procedure guide helps identify the stage.
What if it appears fraudulent or I already paid?
Preserve the evidence and use the appropriate official cybercrime or police reporting channel. If money was transferred, contact the bank or payment provider promptly with the transaction reference and explain the suspected fraud. Recovery is not guaranteed, so do not wait for the sender to promise a refund.
Separately continue checking whether an actual matrimonial case needs a response. Reporting the scam does not answer a real summons, and answering the case does not resolve the fraudulent transaction. Keep the two records distinct.
For general context, see the family-law information page. Your immediate sequence is preserve, independently verify, protect any real court deadline and use only an authenticated payment process.