Banks sound alarm over fraudulent iPhone purchases
Two local banks have urged customers to suspend their credit cards – either via the bank’s mobile app or by phone – if they spot any unauthorised transactions. The reminders follow a wave of social media posts from users who suspect their credit cards were fraudulently used to buy new iPhones during a pre-order launch. In response to media enquiries, HSBC and Standard Chartered both said they…
Two Hong Kong banks are advising customers to halt credit card usage if they notice any unauthorized activity. These warnings followed reports on social media about customers allegedly using their credit cards to buy iPhones through fraudulent means during a pre-order period. Both HSBC and Standard Chartered confirmed they were aware of these online discussions.
HSBC announced an investigation for impacted customers, with potential chargeback initiation following card network protocols. Standard Chartered will assist in submitting refund requests to card networks if investigations confirm customers did not authorize the purchases. While the banks offer 3-D Secure authentication for secure online transactions, customers are responsible for deciding if they wish to add an additional verification layer.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority stated that cardholders typically are not liable for unauthorized transactions unless they acted fraudulently or with gross negligence. The authority emphasized the need for robust measures to safeguard credit card transactions. In instances where merchants opt to disable extra verification measures due to operational constraints, they bear the responsibility for any resulting unauthorized transactions and financial losses, according to the authority.
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- Banks sound alarm over fraudulent iPhone purchases news.rthk.hk
