Hong Kong police report over 1,500 suspicious iPhone 18 Pro transactions
Fraudsters exploited lack of verification in Apple's online commerce system to make large orders
Quick Look
- Hong Kong police have received over 1,500 reports of suspicious credit card transactions totaling HK$30 million linked to the new iPhone 18 Pro.
- Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming stated that Apple's online security measures failed to require verification for these orders.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The reports involve unauthorized use of credit card information to purchase iPhone 18 Pro devices without standard security verification.
Hong Kong police have received more than 1,500 reports of suspicious credit card transactions involving Apple’s new iPhone 18 Pro series, totalling more than HK$30 million (US$3.82 million).
In an update on the case, which has drawn public attention, the force said the number of reports had risen to 1,503 as of Tuesday, from about 1,200 two weeks earlier. It added that all the transactions had been cancelled.
Speaking at a Kowloon City district council meeting, Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming noted that in the cases involved, Apple’s online commerce security measures were not in effect and the transactions did not require verification.
“This meant that one-time passwords or mobile app verification were not required, allowing fraudsters to place large orders using illegally obtained credit card information,” he said.
Open Questions
- What specific security measures will Apple implement to prevent recurrence?
- Are other regions experiencing similar fraudulent patterns?
