Hong Kong Police Receive 130 Fraud Reports After iPhone Duo Pre-Orders, With HK$5 Million in Disputed Charges

Hong Kong police are investigating a new wave of suspected credit card fraud linked to pre-orders of Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo, after receiving 130 reports involving approximately HK$5 million (US$637,100). The incident has raised fresh concerns about online payment security, particularly because similar problems emerged during the launch of Apple’s latest iPhone models just weeks earlier.

The complaints began after Apple opened online pre-orders for the iPhone Duo on October 16, 2026. Customers reported receiving alerts for multiple purchases despite placing only one order, while others said their cards were charged even when their orders had failed or they had not purchased a phone. By the morning of October 19, police had received 130 reports, with the largest individual transaction involving nearly HK$230,000—equivalent to the cost of about 12 devices. Investigators have provisionally classified the cases as obtaining property by deception.

The incident has prompted criticism of Apple’s online payment safeguards. Hong Kong police said they had previously urged the company to activate 3D Secure (3DS), an additional verification system that can require customers to approve payments through a one-time password or their banking app. Officers said the system had not been activated during the latest pre-order period, raising concerns that criminals could exploit weaknesses in the payment process. Apple said it was reviewing current iPhone Duo orders and working to identify and cancel potentially fraudulent transactions. HSBC also said it would investigate duplicate charges and that customers would not be liable for those transactions.

The latest complaints follow a larger incident in September, when police received more than 1,500 reports involving suspected unauthorised transactions linked to pre-orders of the iPhone 18 Pro series. The total amount involved exceeded HK$30 million, according to police statements reported by public broadcaster RTHK. Authorities said the earlier cases involved suspected misuse of credit card information and called on Apple to review its online transaction procedures to prevent a repeat.

The repeated incidents have intensified questions about how major online retailers protect customers during high-demand product launches. Police are continuing their investigation, while affected cardholders are being advised to contact their banks promptly if they notice suspicious charges. The outcome could place further pressure on Apple to strengthen payment verification and reassure customers that pre-ordering new devices will not expose them to unauthorised transactions.