Hongkongers hit with unauthorised charges for new iPhone as banks launch probes
Scores of Hongkongers have complained about unauthorised transactions on credit cards used to pre-order Apple’s latest iPhones, prompting HSBC and Hang Seng Bank to launch investigations. One internet user on the social media platform Threads said she received a message on Saturday night saying she had unauthorised transactions of HK$33,598 (US$4,280) from Apple on her HSBC credit card. “When I…
In Hong Kong, numerous individuals have reported unauthorized charges on their credit cards following the pre-order of Apple's latest iPhone models. This issue has prompted investigations by banks such as HSBC and Hang Seng. One social media user claimed she received unauthorized transactions totaling HK$33,598 from Apple on her HSBC credit card. After being hung up on by Apple, she reached HSBC customer service for assistance in suspending her card and filed a police report.
Another user stated that they experienced at least four unauthorized transactions of HK$11,499 each on their Hang Seng credit card. They only discovered the extent of the issue after seeing posts on social media and checking their own card. Internet personality "Szetosifu" attempted to pre-order an iPhone 18 Pro Max on Saturday night but encountered repeated rejections from Apple.
Despite this, he received 10 SMS notifications claiming charges of HK$13,299 to his Hang Seng credit card. He attempted to contact Hang Seng's hotline but faced a lengthy wait before giving up. Szetosifu believed the bank was withholding the charges and planned to visit a branch the following day to clarify the situation.
Hong Kong's Information Technology Federation's honorary president, Francis Fong Po-kiu, suggested that Apple may have overlooked certain verification steps, including 3D Secure, during the high-demand pre-order phase. This oversight could have allowed fraudsters to exploit the situation using stolen credit card details obtained through phishing websites or black markets.
Fong stated that Apple should bear responsibility, but it remains unclear who will compensate affected individuals. He also mentioned the possibility of duplicate transactions due to network congestion during the pre-order rush.
HSBC stated that they would investigate unauthorized charges and return them to customers under their card scheme rules, provided the customer reported the issue promptly. They emphasized that the decision to use 3D Secure lies with merchants. Hang Seng Bank echoed similar sentiments, promising to support affected customers and initiate refunds where applicable.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority noted that merchants could choose to bypass additional authentication measures due to operational concerns, placing the liability and financial burden on the merchant if an unauthorized transaction occurs. In all other cases, where a cardholder does not engage in fraudulent or negligent behavior, they are not held responsible for unauthorized charges.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
