Phishing scam targets India AI Impact Summit; govt warns against fake refund messages

The government has taken proactive steps to inform participants of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 about a concerning phishing scheme that is targeting attendees. Reports indicate that scammers are disseminating fraudulent refund messages through SMS and WhatsApp, falsely representing themselves as official event organizers. In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), officials warned that these scammers are attempting to extract sensitive financial and personal information from those involved with the summit. The statement emphasized, “Please note: It has come to our attention that a Phishing Scam is currently targeting attendees of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.” The fraudulent communications, which promise refunds, are misleading recipients into providing confidential information. The government further clarified, “These communications are not official and have not been authorized by our organization.” Participants are urged to remain cautious and avoid any unsolicited requests for personal or financial data, relying solely on official communication channels for information related to the event. Authorities have stressed the importance of vigilance, advising attendees to be wary of any requests for sensitive details, such as card numbers or WhatsApp contact information. They reiterated, “Please ensure you are referencing official channels only for any event-related updates.” For those who may have already engaged with suspicious links, the advisory included a critical reminder: “If you have already shared your information via a suspicious link, please contact your bank immediately to secure your accounts.”