Suspicious online orders of iPhones investigated

Police in Hong Kong have received over 700 reports of fraudulent credit card transactions related to the pre-order launch of a new iPhone model. The total amount involved is approximately HK$14.7 million, with one case reaching up to HK$114,000. The investigations are being treated as obtaining property by deception, but no arrests have been made yet.

Apple is working to identify and cancel any potential fraudulent transactions, stating that all orders will be reviewed before processing. Local banks are advising customers to suspend their credit cards if they notice any unauthorized activity.

Lawmaker Johnny Ng has criticized Apple's retailers for potentially disabling the multi-factor verification tool, 3D-Secure, which adds a few seconds to each transaction. Ng suggested that the retailers might have relaxed security measures to accommodate the high volume of simultaneous transactions. He also pointed out the possibility of scammers having stolen credit card information from residents in the past and exploiting the situation for profit.

Ng urged residents to be cautious of suspicious hyperlinks in messages and emails, as fake links can lead to phishing websites that steal personal information and money. He emphasized that both individuals and organizations, including government agencies, must prioritize cybersecurity to protect user data. Ng believes that the actual losses from the reported cases might not be significant, as the products haven't been delivered yet and banks can withhold funds.