IndiaAI Mission has ‘scam’ warning for those attended India AI Impact Summit 2026

The IndiaAI Mission – an independent business division under Digital India flagship programme by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India – has issued an urgent warning for all those who attended the recently-concluded India AI Impact Summit 2026 about a phishing scam. It says that participants have been targeted through fraudulent messages requesting sensitive financial information over WhatsApp.According to an official alert posted on X (formerly Twitter), scammers are circulating fake messages via SMS and WhatsApp claiming to facilitate “refunds” for summit attendees. These communications ask recipients to share card numbers, banking details, and WhatsApp contact information.“Please note: It has come to our attention that a Phishing Scam is currently targeting attendees of the India AI Impact Summit 2026,” the warning said. “Fraudulent messages are being circulated via SMS and WhatsApp, requesting sensitive information to facilitate ‘refunds’. These communications are not official and have not been authorized by our organization,” the IndiaAI Mission warning added.The organisation emphasised that it has not sent any such messages and will never request sensitive financial information through SMS or WhatsApp.“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. Important: If you have already shared your information via a suspicious link, please contact your bank immediately to secure your accounts,” it added.Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw declared that the India Al Impact Summit 2026 was a success and it attracted over $270 billion in investment pledges. Speaking to the media at the conclusion of the Day 5 of the summit held at Bharat Mandapam, the minister highlighted the overwhelming success of the event, which drew more than 5 lakh visitors and brought together virtually every major AI player in the world.“More than 5 lakh visitors have enjoyed this exhibition. A lot interacted with many experts from the world. We had practically every major AI player in the world. We had so many startups getting the opportunity to showcase their work. Overall, the quality of discussion was phenomenal,” Vaishnaw said told reporters.According to Vaishnaw, the summit has already generated massive investment interest in India's technology sector with infrastructure-related investments have crossing $250 billion, while venture capital commitments for deep tech startups have reached $20 billion.