Most Commonly Reported Fraudulent or Suspicious Credit Card Charges
Learn to recognize common fraudulent charge patterns and protect yourself from card theft and scams.
Random Small Test Charges
Fraudsters test cards with tiny amounts before larger theft.
Common descriptors:
- $0.01 – $1.00 charges
- "TEST" or "CHECK CARD"
- "ACI", "TST", "POSAuth"
- Foreign micro-charges (Japan, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Pakistan)
If you see a very small unknown charge, 90% of the time it's a card-testing attempt.
Fake Amazon Charges
Fraudsters often use Amazon-like descriptors.
Common fakes:
- AMZN MKTPLACE PMTS
- AMAZON DIGITAL SVCS
- AMZN MKTP US*
- AMZNPRIME*12345
- AMAZON SERVICES-KDP
⚠️ Real Amazon charges often have recognizable shipping or order patterns. Scammers mimic those.
Fake Apple Charges
Especially used for recurring small scams.
Common descriptors:
- APPLE.COM/BILL
- ITUNES.COM/BILL
- APPLE SERVICES 866-712-7753
- APL ITUNES*
⚠️ These become suspicious when:
- You don't own Apple devices
- The charges repeat daily
- The amounts vary slightly
Subscription Scam Companies
Companies running "free trial → auto-bill" scams.
Common names:
- MCCOACHING, MCCOACHING.COM
- FIT-FAC.COM
- VITA-BERRY, GREEN COFFEE BEAN, etc.
- SKINBEAUTYTRIALS
- NUTRA-SCIENCE-WELLNESS
These typically charge $39 – $99 every 30 days.
Fake Charity / Political Donations
Scams pretending to be charities or PACs.
Descriptors:
- WCA
- PAC*something
- HELPINGHANDS*
- CHILDRENS FUND*
Often charged repeatedly.
Gas Station Skimmer Charges
Skimmers often use duplicate merchant IDs.
Suspicious descriptors:
- "PAYMENT TERMINAL"
- "FUEL PURCHASE" with no location
- Unexpected far-away locations (e.g., Florida when you live in CA)
Amounts often $40–$200.
Lyft/Uber Ghost Charges
Often used for fraud because fraudsters know they look familiar.
Descriptors:
- UBER TRIP HELP.UBER.COM
- LYFT RIDE SAN FRANCISCO
- *UBER TRIP with strange city names
- Trip Adjustment Fee
Fraud occurs when:
- You don't use rideshares
- Charges appear in cities you've never visited
Hotel, Car Rental, or Travel Phantom Charges
Common when stolen corporate cards are used.
Fraudulent descriptors:
- BOOKING.COM with no confirmation
- EXPEDIA 800-123-456
- *AIRBNB HOST FEE
- HOTWIRE CHARGE
- HERTZ RENTAL
Travel fraud usually posts as large amounts.
Crypto Scam Charges
Fake exchanges or wallet purchases.
Descriptors:
- CoinPayU
- CryptoExch Limited
- Bitwallet
- Binance (when you don't have an account)
If you don't trade crypto, any related charge is a red flag.
China/Hong Kong Merchant Charges
Many fraudulent carders use low-security processing overseas.
Common descriptors:
- "HONG KONG"
- "SHENZHEN CN"
- "GAODENG CO LIMITED"
- "XIANGLONG TECH CO"
- "YOYBUY"
Amounts often $5–$50.
Found a Suspicious Charge?
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