In a major cyber security breach, a fraudulent clone website of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University (MJPRU) in Uttar Pradesh has been created to illegally harvest the personal data of its vast student body. The fake portal, designed to look identical to the official one, potentially threatens the sensitive information of over 10 lakh students enrolled across the university's affiliated colleges.
Police Case Filed Against Unknown Culprits
The Baradari police station in Bijnor registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Saturday after university officials detected the deceptive website. The case has been filed against unidentified persons under BNS sections 335 (making a false document) and 336 (forgery), along with the crucial Section 66 of the IT Act.
Senior police officials confirmed that a rigorous investigation is now underway. SHO Dhananjay Pandey stated that efforts are on to identify and trace the accused, with the cyber crime cell actively assisting in the probe. Steps are also being taken to shut down the cloned website at the earliest.
A Well-Planned Digital Deception
The fake website, with the address www.mjpru.org.in, is a meticulous copy of the university's legitimate portal, www.mjpru.ac.in. It features examination schedules, semester details, and course-related information, making it nearly indistinguishable from the original to an unsuspecting visitor.
Akhtar Hussain, the university's website coordinator, highlighted the severity of the scam. He explained that the clone site appears to be part of a calculated fraud, not just mimicking the original but actively collecting fees and sensitive personal information from students. This data harvesting could lead to large-scale financial fraud and identity theft.
"Swift and strict action against the culprits, along with blocking the website, is essential," Hussain emphasized. Fortunately, there have been no confirmed reports of students being duped so far, but the risk remains extremely high.
Vast Network of Students at Risk
The scale of the potential impact is alarming. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University has a sprawling network of more than 240 affiliated colleges spread across seven districts: Bareilly, Budaun, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Rampur, Amroha, and Bijnor. This makes the student community vulnerable to such sophisticated online traps.
Authorities have urged students, parents, and all stakeholders to exercise extreme caution and verify they are using only the official university website for any academic or fee-related transactions. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of cybercrime targeting educational institutions and their students.
