Using Hotstar six months on my tab and today morning I got an SMS from Jio saying that my account has been blocked due to suspicious activity. I try to log in I see error message: Error NM-1001_429 (“Unusual Activity Detected”).
I tried to contact Jio and they reply I might be using proxy, VPN, or an unofficial Hotstar app. I use nothing like that. Their support keeps repeating this useless email:
On twitter also same useless response. But I am not using a VPN! Can someone here help me?
Looks like Jio is blanket banning accounts for adblock and VPN usage. I saw some threads on twitter too. I found these in JioHotstar’s web
"web-v2__player_error_PB_WEB_NM-1001_429_message":"We have detected suspicious activity on this device. For your safety, we have locked this account for 24 hours."
"web-v2__player_error_PB_WEB_NM-1001_429_title":"Unusual activity detected"
"common-v2__http_connection_error_message":"Looks like you’re connecting through a VPN, proxy or ‘unblocker’ service. Please turn off any of these services and try again."The 429 is however an HTTP code for too many requests. This looks like their internal code and they are definitely not happy about something that’s messing with their ads.
Don’t care to contact their support. You will not get anything but automated replies of accusing you of breaking the terms with assumptions like this. I am looking at their twitter. It appears even their own team don’t know what this is actually is about. JioHotstar’s detection system is mass banning accounts where their ads are not shown.
Are you using an app or a browser?
not happy about something
It’s ads! It’s always ads!
They’re stooping too low to get people turn off their adblockers. What surprises me is the ‘as a one-time goodwill gesture’ part in their email. Reads like they are handing out charity… for paying customers! Lol!
And I don’t understand how they can shamelessly start a sentence with ‘possibly’ right after accusing the OP for violating ToS. It seems even their own team is not sure of it! Peak circus!
Chrome. With ublock.
There’s your answer. Jio couldn’t do anything to shove their ads to you over your adblock and they are doing these petty scare tactics to get you turn it off. Since you’re here on Geekswipe, I’d recommend you to cancel the subscription and find better content elsewhere.
I have already cancelled the auto subscription. I will wait 24 hours. 😒😒😒😒
Bhai, I’m facing error too (PB_IOS_NM-4290). Completely ruined the match for me today! 🤦♂️
Don’t even bother reaching out to Jio customer support, it’s a total waste of time and energy. You’ll just get the same copypasta bot replies. The actual technical reason behind all these recent errors is that JioHotstar’s backend freaks out if it can’t load ads. It can’t differentiate between a VPN or a basic adblocker extension, so it just bans the account.
You basically have only two options now:
- Give in and live with the ads. Turn off your adblocker/VPN (you might still have to wait like 24 hours for the shadowban to lift).
- Cancel the subscription and just take the high seas route (FMHY FTW).