At least 800 British and U.S. customers of the Uber ride-hailing service have reportedly been billed for phantom rides in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Uber admitted this week that the personal information of 57 million users and 600 drivers worldwide was stolen last year. The tech company paid a $100,000 ransom to delete the data and cover up the breach.
More than 800 customers in the U.S. and Britain have complained to Uber that they were billed in rubles for rides in Russia’s two biggest cities, The Times reported on Thursday.
Disgruntled British customers have shared screenshots on Twitter of billing information in rubles for supposed trips in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Users also said their phone numbers had been changed to Russian numbers.
The Times said Russian cyber-criminals are suspected of being behind the breach.
Ironically, if the hackers behind the breach are Russian, Uber customers based within Russia are unlikely to be affected by the global data breach, The Bell outlet writes. Cyber-criminals in Russia face severe punishment if caught at home but they are rarely extradited abroad, the report said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
