Key facts
- Police received 130 reports of unauthorized credit card transactions for iPhone Duo pre-orders.
- Total losses from the fraud reached HK$5 million (US$637,100).
- The cases are being investigated as obtaining property by deception.
- The largest single fraudulent charge reported was HK$229,788.
Hong Kong police have received 130 reports of unauthorized credit card transactions related to the pre-order of Apple's new iPhone Duo, with total losses amounting to HK$5 million (US$637,100). The incidents, which began shortly after pre-orders opened on Friday, October 16, 2026, involve multiple banks, primarily HSBC. Some customers who successfully pre-ordered found their cards charged multiple times, while others were charged despite failing to complete their orders, and some reported no order placed at all. The police are investigating the cases as "obtaining property by deception." The largest reported fraudulent charge was HK$229,788, equivalent to the cost of 12 iPhone Duo devices. This pattern of fraud mirrors issues seen during previous iPhone launches.