Hong Kong police have raised concerns over a surge in fraudulent purchases of Apple’s newest smartphone, the iPhone 18 Pro, using what they call fake credit cards. Since the device launched, over 1,500 suspicious transactions were reported, amounting to approximately US $3.82 million in attempted purchases—though all were later cancelled, authorities say.
What the Authorities Found
Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming revealed that in each case Apple’s usual online security checks—like one-time passwords or mobile app verification—were allegedly bypassed. He claims Apple’s system allowed web orders to go through without these protections, creating what the police describe as a “loophole.”
The fraudsters reportedly used stolen or illegally obtained credit card data along with invalid or incomplete addresses. When Apple emailed for address clarification, the buyers would then supply some kind of public pickup location instead of a valid home or business address.
What’s Being Asked of Apple
Police have formally requested that Apple reevaluate its store’s transaction process to close the gap that’s being exploited. With another model, the “iPhone Duo,” due for release in October, there’s concern that similar fraud patterns may emerge once demand ramps up.
As of this reporting, Apple has not issued a public comment on the matter.
