Mideast ride-sharing app Careem says it was hacked

The Mideast ride-sharing app Careem says it has been hacked.

The Dubai-based competitor to Uber said in a blog post on Monday that it became aware of the hack on Jan. 14 and that it affected "computer systems which hold customer and captain account data." Careem refers to its drivers as captains.

While credit card information remains safe, Careem says that the hackers got access to customers' name, email addresses, phone numbers and trip data.

Careem is one of just a few Gulf startups to be valued at $1 billion. The six-year-old company localized the idea of Uber by also allowing customers to pay by cash.

Among its biggest investors is an investment firm chaired by billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and the largely state-owned Saudi Telecom Co.

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