Unknown Charges on Your Bank Statement? How to Identify & Stop Them

That mysterious $9.99 charge isn't always fraud — here's how to figure out what it is and make it stop.

You open your bank statement and see a charge you don't recognize. Maybe it's $4.99 from "APPLE.COM/BILL", or $14.99 from "GOOGLE *SERVICES", or some cryptic merchant name you've never heard of. Before you panic about fraud, the charge is almost certainly a forgotten subscription.

The average American has 12 active subscriptions and pays $219/month on recurring charges — and most people underestimate their subscription spending by 2-3x. Here's how to identify those mystery charges and stop them.

The Most Common "Mystery" Charges

Companies often bill under names that look nothing like their brand. Here are the most confusing ones:

Apple Charges

• APPLE.COM/BILL — Any App Store subscription (iCloud, Apple Music, Apple TV+, or any app)
• APL*APPLE MUSIC — Apple Music specifically
• APPLE.COM/US — One-time App Store purchases

To find which Apple subscription is charging you: Go to Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions on your iPhone.

Google Charges

• GOOGLE *SERVICES — Google One, YouTube Premium, Google Play apps
• GOOGLE *YouTube — YouTube Premium or YouTube TV
• GOOGLE *[App Name] — Any Android app subscription

Check yours at play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions

Other Confusing Merchant Names

• AMZN DIGITAL or AMAZON PRIME — Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, Audible
• MSFT *MICROSOFT — Microsoft 365, Xbox Game Pass, OneDrive
• PAYPAL *[Company] — Any subscription billed through PayPal
• STRIPE *[Company] — Various SaaS tools and online services
• ROKU INC — Roku channel subscriptions
• INTUIT *TURBOTAX — TurboTax, Mint, Credit Karma premium

Step-by-Step: Identify Any Unknown Charge

1. Search the Merchant Name

Copy the exact charge description from your statement and Google it. Add "charge on bank statement" to your search. You'll usually find forum posts from other people asking about the same charge.

2. Check Your Email

Search your email for the charge amount (e.g., "$9.99") or the merchant name. Most subscription services send receipts or confirmation emails when they charge you. Check spam/promotions folders too.

3. Review App Store Subscriptions

• iPhone: Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions
• Android: Play Store → Profile → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions
• Amazon: amazon.com/gp/memberships
• PayPal: paypal.com → Settings → Payments → Manage automatic payments

4. Upload Your Bank Statement

The fastest way to identify all subscription charges at once: upload your bank statement to JustCancel. It automatically identifies every recurring charge, shows you what each one is, and gives you direct cancel links — all for a one-time $5 fee.

How to Stop Unknown Charges

If It's a Forgotten Subscription

1. Log into the service and cancel (check our 440+ cancel guides for step-by-step instructions)
2. If you can't log in, contact the company directly
3. Request a refund for recent charges — many companies will refund the last 1-2 months

If You Truly Don't Recognize It

1. Don't cancel your card yet — first try to identify the charge using the steps above
2. Call the number on the back of your card to ask about the charge
3. If it's unauthorized, file a dispute with your bank (you have 60 days under the Fair Credit Billing Act)
4. Request a new card number to prevent future charges

If It's a Free Trial You Forgot to Cancel

This is the #1 source of "mystery" charges. You signed up for a free trial, forgot about it, and now it's billing you monthly. The good news: most companies will refund the first charge if you contact them quickly. Read our free trial trap guide to avoid this in the future.

Prevent Future Mystery Charges

• Use virtual cards for free trials — they auto-expire so you can't get charged (our guide to virtual cards)
• Set calendar reminders 2 days before any trial ends
• Audit your statements monthly — or use JustCancel quarterly to catch subscription creep
• Check app store subscriptions every month on both iPhone and Android
• Use one card for subscriptions — makes them easy to spot and track

Your Rights: Disputing Unauthorized Charges

Under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), you have strong protections against unauthorized credit card charges:

• You're only liable for up to $50 in unauthorized charges (most banks waive even this)
• You have 60 days from the statement date to file a dispute
• Your bank must investigate and respond within 30 days
• For debit cards, Regulation E provides similar protections but with tighter timelines

Read our full guide on what to do when you're still charged after canceling and our state-by-state subscription cancellation laws.

The Bottom Line

Mystery charges on your bank statement are almost always forgotten subscriptions, not fraud. The fastest way to identify and eliminate them all at once is to upload your bank statement to JustCancel — it takes 30 seconds and costs less than one month of whatever's been quietly draining your account.