Naples Man Allegedly Used Fake Apple Pay Account to Buy a $14K Rolex

In what investigators describe as a high-value standalone fraud case, authorities in Naples say a 36-year-old man used a false Apple Pay account to buy a luxury timepiece, then attempted to return it to the store after the fraud was discovered. The incident, reported by the Naples Police Department (NPD), highlights how digital-payment vulnerabilities can collide with high-end retail and identity-fraud tactics.

According to the criminal complaint, the suspect, identified by NPD as Shenghao Liang, visited Bigham Jewelers in Naples and used what appeared to be an Apple Pay transaction to pay for a Rolex valued at more than $14,000. Within hours, the credit-card holder tied to the Apple Pay account flagged the charge as unauthorized, and investigators from the NPD’s Cyber Crimes Unit were dispatched to the scene.

What followed raised more red flags. While detectives were still at the store, Liang returned with the watch and asked store staff for the original sales tag. Those staff immediately identified him as the same person involved in the earlier transaction. When detectives confronted him, they say he refused to cooperate and resisted detention. A search of his wallet uncovered a counterfeit Kentucky driver’s license and a small bag of methamphetamine. District attorneys filed consolidated charges: fraudulent use of a credit card over $100, possession of a counterfeit driver’s license and possession of methamphetamine.

While the dollar amount is significant, cases like this reflect a wider trend: fraudsters leveraging digital wallets and online-linked payment methods to bypass traditional checks. With Apple Pay and similar services becoming more common, the speed of transaction provides both convenience for customers and potential opportunity for attackers. The rapid detection in this case — by the cardholder and jeweler — suggests growing vigilance among merchants but also signals how easily luxury-goods retailers are targeted.

Naples is home to a concentration of premium retail stores, luxury jewelers and high-value clientele. That upscale environment, combined with the ease of digital payments, creates a market that is both attractive and vulnerable. For jewelers, the implications are clear: tightened in-store verification, awareness of payment-method fraud, and strong coordination with local law-enforcement. For consumers, especially those in Naples’ luxury-oriented segment, this case underlines that fraud risk isn’t just a mass-market issue—it affects premium channels too.

Liang faces significant charges that could carry serious penalties if he is convicted. The combination of high dollar fraud, counterfeit ID, and controlled-substance possession adds layers to his case. As the judicial process plays out, local attorneys and retailers will watch for how this case may influence policy, store procedures and regional fraud prevention strategies.