India AI Impact Summit 2026 Phishing Scam: Organisers warn of fake refund messages on WhatsApp and SMS - Storyboard18

Global Pioneers Summit Storyboard18 Awards For Creativity The Visionaries Power of Purpose Share the Spotlight Digital Entertainment Summit DNPA HOME DIGITAL INDIA AI IMPACT SUMMIT 2026 PHISHING SCAM: ORGANISERS WARN OF FAKE REFUND MESSAGES ON WHATSAPP AND SMS Previous Next India AI Impact Summit 2026 Phishing Scam: Organisers warn of fake refund messages on WhatsApp and SMS Organisers of India AI Impact Summit 2026 warn attendees about fake refund messages circulating on WhatsApp and SMS, urging participants to verify communications through official channels only. By  STORYBOARD18| February 23, 2026, 13:46:22 IST Share Follow Us Phishing Alert Issued After Scammers Target India AI Impact Summit 2026 Attendees (This image is AI generated) Organisers of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 have issued a public advisory after discovering a phishing campaign targeting attendees through fraudulent refund messages. In a notice released on February 22, the summit team warned participants about scam messages circulating via SMS and WhatsApp. The messages falsely claim to process event-related refunds and attempt to trick recipients into sharing sensitive financial and personal information. Organisers clarified that these communications are not official and have not been authorised. What the Scam Involves According to the advisory, the fraudulent messages request details such as card numbers, CVV codes, one-time passwords (OTPs), and even WhatsApp contact information. Some recipients are also being redirected to suspicious links designed to capture banking credentials. Organisers stressed that no legitimate refund process would ever require attendees to disclose confidential financial information over messaging platforms. Also read: Cash on Delivery scam explained: How fake parcels are targeting Indian homes and offices Cybersecurity experts note that major conferences and high-profile tech gatherings have increasingly become targets for social engineering attacks. Scammers often leverage publicly available attendee information or heightened event visibility to impersonate organisers and exploit trust. Advisory to Participants Attendees have been urged to remain cautious and avoid engaging with unsolicited refund-related messages. They have been specifically advised not to share card details, CVV numbers, or OTPs under any circumstances. Participants are encouraged to verify all updates and announcements exclusively through official communication channels of the summit. For those who may have already clicked on suspicious links or shared information, organisers recommend immediately contacting their bank or card issuer, securing accounts, and closely monitoring transactions for unauthorised activity. A High-Profile Event Under Scrutiny The phishing scare adds to a series of controversies surrounding the summit, which was held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Marketed as the world’s largest AI gathering, the five-day event drew more than 50,000 participants from over 118 countries. The summit featured global political and technology leaders including Narendra Modi, Emmanuel Macron, Sundar Pichai, Demis Hassabis and former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It also drew attention for high-stakes announcements of multi-billion-dollar AI investments and a widely discussed on-stage exchange between Sam Altman and Dario Amodei. Also read: JioStar files criminal complaint against ExpressVPN, flags VPN marketing as copyright breach The event aimed to shape global AI governance frameworks, expand infrastructure access, and promote practical AI applications in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education and finance. However, the phishing episode underscores the growing cybersecurity risks that accompany large-scale digital gatherings. Organisers said they are actively monitoring the situation and have urged attendees to report suspicious messages through official channels. Follow Storyboard18 on Google for the latest and breaking digital news and industry updates, along with in-depth coverage of digital media and gaming news. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Storyboard18. Tags AI Impact Summit Digital Technology Trending FIRST PUBLISHED ON February 23, 2026, 13:46:22 IST MORE FROM STORYBOARD18 MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT Paramount's $110 billion Warner Bros. 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