How my Uber Account was Hacked and Money Stolen from my Paytm Wallet

Early this year, my Uber account was hacked by someone and money was deducted from its connected Paytm wallet. I had raised this issue with Uber Customer Care, but they were hopelessly indifferent in helping me. I would describe the sequence of events that unfolded, so that you can beware and try to avoid similar situations with your Uber account. 

I use Ola Cabs as a cab hiring service frequently; but I have also installed Uber app and use it in the rare occasions when Ola cabs are not available. For convenience I had also attached my Paytm wallet with my Uber account. 

Warning-1

Once I realized that I had started getting SMS on my cellphone for a while, which came with an OTP for login into Uber app; which I had never requested. I did occur to me that may be some hacker was trying to make login attempts; but I thought that since the phone was with me, he would not be able to succeed. I was also very busy in office and did not get time to log into Uber app which I seldom used anyway; and to check if everything was okay in there. 

Warning-2

I used to receive some emails from Uber which I used to ignore; since I was not using their service frequently. After my account was hacked and when I tried to investigate; I saw that Uber had sent me email once saying that my email ID was changed in my Uber account. But I had not changed it! When I logged into my Uber account after my account was hacked, I could see that the hacker had put some other email ID (email ID still beginning with letters of my name “Rahu”…). 

Warning-3

During my investigation I also found that Uber had sent me an email telling me that my Uber account was logged into a device in Russia! I had not seen this email because of I was not using Uber those days and hence did not know about it. 

Later, using the above IP address, I could check more about it on websites and also reported it for scam on below website: 

Main Event

One evening while I was in office, I received an SMS from Paytm that an amount was deducted from my Paytm wallet. I was too busy to think about it. After returning to home, it came to my mind that on that particular day I had not really used Paytm. So I opened my Paytm app and saw that the amount was deducted as a charge for taking Uber ride (which I had not taken). So I tried to log into Uber account and when I logged into Uber app, I found that all my travel history was erased. Even there was no record of that trip which caused money deduction from my Paytm account!

Customer Care Help

Realizing there was something wrong; I called up the Uber customer care. They checked the data from backend and said that they were also not able to see any travel history and they could not understand why my Paytm wallet was charged by Uber (they were able to see that Uber had charged my wallet). But they declined to help me and asked to approach Paytm for reversal of the transaction. 

I reached out to Paytm with this request, but Paytm told me that only the App which charged my wallet would be able to revert (credit the amount) to my wallet. It is natural; just like it happens in banks. Once we withdraw an amount from our account, we can’t ask the bank to “reverse” the transaction. We shall need to make another transaction and deposit the money in the account once again. Frustrated at the illogical suggestion by Uber customer care, I called up the customer care once again. But there was a bigger surprise to come!

As I was talking to Uber Customer Care, in the meanwhile I received an SMS that another amount was deducted from my Paytm wallet. I checked and found that the hacker had taken another fake ride and charged my wallet. Uber customer care once again declined to help, saying they could not see any ride taken in my travel history and they asked me to reach out once again to Paytm! 

I searched the internet to find any clues and found that there is a practice of “Ghost Rides” that are taken by hackers using some other person’s account. So it seemed that the hacker was from Russia (that is how my account was logged into his device in Russia – as per Uber’s email) and he had taken 2 rides in Russia using my account; and money got auto-deducted from my wallet. 

In the meanwhile, I did some transactions and emptied out my Paytm wallet to make the balance amount zero. I also removed all linked wallets and cards from my Uber, Ola and all other apps I could remember. 

I sent a written complain to Uber support but every time they just called me up and told me the same – that they won’t be able to help and I had to ask Paytm to get my money back. After chasing them for several days, I decided to quit. I deleted my Uber app and resolved not to use such an unsafe and insecure app again.

The Lessons

The lessons I learnt from this episode are:

1. Keep checking all SMS and emails that you receive from such apps; even if you are not using those actively
2. Do not “save” card details or link wallets in apps which you do not use frequently. It is better to connect as and when needed 
3. Several times “cash” option is still the safest option
4. Do not assume that the Customer Care will be able to help you; sometimes they are useless and apathetic 
5. Do not keep so many apps in your phone that you forget what all you have got. Keep the minimum ones which you use regularly and for those apps which you use once in a blue moon, install when needed and uninstall after use

Hope my blog post describing my experience would have opened your eyes to this type of scams. You can also search the internet to know more about such scams and be better prepared if anything wrong happens with you.

- Rahul Tiwary

उत्तर रामायण में शम्बूक वध का प्रकरण

कुछ लोग 'शम्बूक वध' के प्रकरण को मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम श्रीराम की "दलित विरोधी" विचार का प्रमाण मानते हैं। कई हिन्दू-विरोधी लोग इस प्रकरण को बार-बार उछाल कर हिन्दू धर्म की निंदा करते दीखते हैं। तो इस मामले की सही जानकारी सबको होना बहुत आवश्यक है।

शम्बूक वध का प्रकरण "उत्तर रामायण" में आता है जो कि वाल्मीकि रामायण का हिस्सा नहीं है। वाल्मीकि रामायण श्री राम के अयोध्या लौटने और सिंहासन पर बैठने के साथ ही खत्म हो जाता है। बाद में कुछ लोगों द्वारा विवादित व काल्पनिक "उत्तर रामायण" लिख कर जोड़ा गया और सारी विवादित चीजें इसी से निकलती हैं।

श्री राम द्वारा माँ सीता के त्याग का प्रकरण भी इसी काल्पनिक "उत्तर रामायण" में आता है - जिसकी मदद से श्री राम को स्त्री-विरोधी दिखाया गया। शम्बूक वध की काल्पनिक कहानी भी इसी काल्पनिक "उत्तर रामायण" का हिस्सा है जिस से श्री राम को दलित विरोधी दिखाया गया। जबकि सच ये है कि अहिल्या से लेकर केवट तक और वाल्मीकि जी तक - सब साबित करते हैं कि श्री राम मर्यादा-पुरुषोत्तम थे। विद्वानों और इतिहासकारों ने "उत्तर रामायण" को बाद में जोड़ा गया काल्पनिक कहानी ही माना है।

'शम्बूक वध' जैसे प्रकरणों को गलत तरीके से पेश करके हिन्दुओं को विभाजित करके हमारे भगवानों को बदनाम करके की साजिश से दूर रहें।

- राहुल तिवारी

Movies: Mission Mangal

Looking at the promo (teaser) and songs of upcoming movie Mission Mangal, I am scared if the movie will trivialize our scientists and ISRO in order to make it funny. I can see some glimpses of 'jugaad' in it (e.g. a scene where Vidya Balan is pressing toothpaste with her kitchen 'belan'). 

A lot of writers and television programs have created an impression of India in front of the world as if we "somehow" manage to do the job with the help of hacks (jugaad). But the fact is that ISRO has real sophisticated capabilities in space science. And similarly, Indians and Indian companies do have purely excellent skills using which they execute work. 

At this stage (movie not released yet) I can only hope that this movie does not do any harm to our country's image.

- Rahul Tiwary

World: Lesson from Jeffrey Epstein Saga: A Simplistic Take

Saw a piece of news from USA that Jeffrey Epstein has committed suicide inside his jail. 

I had not heard about him but out of curiosity, searched the web for his name. Got to know that he was a multi-millionaire before being accused of child sex trafficking charges and sent to jail. And the Wikipedia article tells more about his background:

Jeffrey was son of a gardener, grew up in working class locality and attended public schools.

As his first job, he taught physics and mathematics at a school, and it is there that he impressed CEO of Bear Stearns who was father of one of his students and got a job offer. He joins Bear Stearns as a low-level junior assistant; shows great talent and rises up the ranks; and in just 4 years he becomes a limited partner. But then he got fired for some policy violation. Then he starts his own consulting firm; achieves great successes; and becomes a multimillionaire. He also did philanthropy through his own foundation.

Then he is charged with taking a girl below age 18 for prostitution. Hells breaks loose and he is accused by dozens in child molestation cases. Serves a jail term and comes out. Then he is arrested again recently on July 6, 2019, on charges for sex trafficking of minors. And today, he committed suicide inside the jail.

From his humble background and struggles in early days, one could think that he was a great success; until his true reality came out. All his financial successes would be ignored; and his personal fallacy would always be remembered whenever his name would be remembered. That is tragedy. This is why in India of earlier days, elders always gave higher priority to character and lower to the financial success. If a person has lots of money but no character, the person is sitting on a ticking time bomb. 

This is the lesson from the Jeffrey Epstein saga. 

- Rahul Tiwary

Movies: Anil Kapoor and His Moustache

Things that set legendary actor Anil Kapoor apart in Indian Film Industry are not only his fitness and youthfulness, but also include his “moustache”. While almost all other actors had shaved their moustache (the practice is still common), Anil Kapoor sported it confidently all through the years.

Here are two pictures, one from current date and the other from his earlier days of super stardom; his moustache always won hearts! 

The reason I am writing about it is that I believe in the right of individual to dress and appear as one wants. There is a need to not take need for social conformity too seriously. That truly propels creativity. 

- Rahul Tiwary

Television: France24 News Channel

I have started watching France24 news channel on TV using my Tata Sky service. Hope to find a fresh look and new interesting views on international news. 

I am able to note that there is high international coverage on the channel. So far I was watching CNN for international news, but I got bored by anti-Trump rhetoric which CNN journalists push in the news. I am also shocked how CNN journalists and hosts can so easily insult the President of United States. In the field of journalism there should be a neutrality of tone and TV news channels should not try to push their own political agenda in front of the viewers. One more reason is that their coverage is more bent towards US. 

So far; it is all very good. Hope to get more good content. 

- Rahul Tiwary

India: Sushma Swaraj's Demise

It is very sad and shocking to hear about Ms. Sushma Swaraj's untimely death. Om Shanti. Our nation is indebted to Sushma ji. Till now, she also reminded us Atal ji's cabinet. The cabinet that Atal Behari Vajpee had formed, with stalwart leaders coming from different fields, e.g. Arun Jaitley, Arun Shourie, Ram Jethmalani, Jaswant Singh, Pramod Mahajan, Maneka Gandhi, and Sushma Swaraj - it was coming of age for India. 

Politicians like Sushma Swaraj proved that politics is still about serving the nation and not only about starting a dynasty and opening Swiss bank accounts which was the norm earlier. Politicians had gained very negative image but we have exceptions like Mrs. Sushma Swaraj who always shine brightly. 

Sushma ji was the youngest cabinet minister in Haryana state at the age of 25. She was also the first woman CM of Delhi and seven time Member of Parliament. 

When Sushma ji became our External Affairs Minister, she started making use of social media like Twitter to address people's concerns and to help them. Initially I was skeptic about it. In my opinion, digital media always creates a divide of "haves" and "have nots". If a ministery focuesses too much on social media, people from rural area or other people who do not use social media are at disadvantage. The traditional channels of communicaiton should also be kept open and strenghthened. But my skepticizm was proven wrong in a little time. News started pouring how she helped so many Indians in distress. She went ahead and also helped people from our enemy nation if they wanted to come here for medical treatement. During her tenure, and I am sure the overall government and PM Modi is also responsible for the change, the message from government was loud and clear - our government will stand by and help any Indian, anywhere on the globe. This was a big change which impacted people's minds very positively. 

Sushma ji also honored our official language Hindi in international forums. She was a messenger of Indian values. 

Amul's tweet: https://twitter.com/Amul_Coop/status/1159071718129823744?s=20 

Some other links of news etc remembering her: 

Sushma Swaraj trolls man who said she will be remembered like Sheila Dikshit:

Photo tribute: Sushma Swaraj, prolific orator, remarkable leader

'How Can She Leave So Early': Hamid Ansari, Freed From Pak Jail Due to Sushma's Efforts, Still in Disbelief

The nation is indebted.

Om Shanti.

- Rahul Tiwary

India: Scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir

Due to heavy rains in my city, we were asked to work from home today. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I was able to witness a history in the making. Today, Government of India scrapped Article 370 which gave special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and prevented Indians from other parts of the country to settle down there. It was a major hindrance in integration of people from the state with other parts of the country and was fueling separation calls by fringe elements funded from across the border. With article 370 gone, people from the state will be able to enjoy greater benefits and facilities and Indians from rest of the country will also be able to move freely in the state which is called “Switzerland of India” because of its natural beauty. 

I congratulate our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the government for such a bold and clear decision. 

Whole India is celebrating this decision and even people of Jammu and Kashmir are celebrating. As this article tells, “People danced to drumbeats and distributed sweets as they hailed the Centre’s move as a “bold”, “historic” and “monumental” decision towards the delivery of justice to the region.”

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/jammu-celebrates-scrapping-of-article-370-despite-restrictions/article28824519.ece

Following article describes how article 370's scrapping would impact the state.

https://www.news18.com/news/india/no-separate-flag-scst-reservation-what-scrapping-of-art-370-means-for-kashmir-and-kashmiris-2259229.html

Today, I can say that I have seen only two real "Men of Steel" during my own lifetime. One is MS Dhoni in Cricket; he made bold men out of panicking boys. Second is Amit Shah in politics; he has made history today and stands amongst the giants.

Now that the historical blunder done by our first PM JL Nehru and his party has been corrected, as citizens let us also act responsibly. People from Jammu and Kashmir are now people like us. Let us help them and support national integration. Also be careful in not making insensitive jokes on Social Media which fuels confusion and distrust between people.

I congratulate every patriot Indian on this great historical day! 

Following is a small poem in Hindi written by Dr. Brijesh Tripathi, a poet and doctor I follow on social media:

Along with scrapping of article 370, the state has been divided into two union territories which is again a good decision because given the sensitive geography of the state and cross-border terrorism and influences by Pakistan and China, it makes sense that it is directly controlled by central government for some time in the future.

- Rahul Tiwary