Refund messages after India AI summit spark confusion amid phishing warning

Participants of the recent India AI Impact Summit found themselves in a state of confusion when they received WhatsApp messages requesting banking information for refunds related to prepaid cards used during the event. This confusion arose despite a government warning issued on February 22 about a phishing scam targeting summit attendees. Several attendees, including staff from Business Today, reported receiving messages from Dreamcast, the event's payment partner, stating, "Thank you for attending our India AI Impact Summit 2026. To proceed with your refund, please complete your banking details using the link below." The message included personal details such as the recipient's card number and phone number, and urged them to respond by a specific deadline: "Please submit this information before 2026-02-27 23:30:00 to ensure timely processing." While the messages appeared legitimate, the government had already issued a public alert cautioning attendees against sharing sensitive information, urging them to be wary of unsolicited requests for card information. The statement emphasized: "We urge all attendees to remain vigilant against unsolicited requests for card numbers or WhatsApp contact details. Please ensure you are referencing official channels only for any event-related updates." Adding to the confusion were the instructions printed on the back of the cashless cards, which noted that refunds would follow specific event policies. It read, "The refund of unused value and security deposits will be governed by specific event’s policy. Please check with the event organisers for more information." Dreamcast clarified its role, stating it operates as a “pure agent” and only facilitates the refund process before transferring remaining funds to the event organizers. In a response to Business Today, the company explained, "We facilitate the refund window (5–7 days), after which the entire balance amount is transferred to the event organiser (end client)." The firm confirmed that at least one of the messages circulated was indeed authentic. Business Today reached out to the IndiaAI Mission for clarification, which confirmed that the message was sent from Dreamcast’s official number and that the refund link provided was safe to use. Despite this verification, Dreamcast also acknowledged reports of fraudulent messages, stating, "In light of recent advisories around phishing attempts, we have been aware of certain fraudulent messages circulating since yesterday. Our support team is actively assisting users in verifying official communications and ensuring a smooth and secure refund process." The overlapping warnings and genuine refund notifications have left many attendees in doubt about the authenticity of the messages, underscoring the heightened risks of scams that can follow large public events.