The number of suspicious credit card transactions involving pre-orders for the latest iPhone models has surged to more than 1,200 in Hong Kong, involving HK$25 million (US$3.2 million), police have said, while Apple is reviewing all current orders.
The force said the number of unauthorised transactions had risen to 1,209 as of 5pm on Monday, up from more than 700 the previous day. The total amount involved had also risen from HK$14.7 million.
Over the weekend, many social media users reported unauthorised credit card transactions involving Apple’s new iPhone 18 Pro series, which went on pre-order on Saturday. The cards had been issued by different banks.
Police said they had immediately contacted the relevant banks and Apple to ascertain the situation.
“Our preliminary investigations have also revealed that the online mobile phone pre-order transactions in question did not require a one-time password via SMS or any other form of authentication,” Chief Inspector Chan Lai-yu said.
