Why You're Seeing "SHUTTERSTOCK*" on Your Bank Statement
Why You're Seeing "SHUTTERSTOCK*" on Your Bank Statement
A charge showing SHUTTERSTOCK* on your bank statement comes from Shutterstock, one of the world's leading stock photo and media licensing platforms. This charge typically reflects a subscription plan that gives you access to their library of photos, vectors, illustrations, music, or video footage. Shutterstock offers several subscription tiers billed monthly or annually, so recurring charges are common if you signed up for ongoing access. If you don't recognize this charge, it's possible a free trial converted to a paid plan or someone else with access to your payment method set up an account.
The descriptor SHUTTERSTOCK* appears on your bank statement because payment processors often truncate or format merchant names using a shorthand version of the company name, sometimes followed by an asterisk to indicate a digital or subscription-based transaction. The asterisk after the name is a common convention used by payment networks to flag recurring billing or online purchases. This formatting is standard across many SaaS and subscription companies and is the official way Shutterstock identifies itself to banks and card networks.
Is the SHUTTERSTOCK* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?
If you see SHUTTERSTOCK* on your bank or credit card statement, it is most likely a legitimate charge from Shutterstock, one of the world's leading stock photo, video, and music licensing platforms. Shutterstock uses this billing descriptor for subscription plans and on-demand image purchases. Common reasons you may see this charge include:
- An active Shutterstock monthly or annual subscription plan auto-renewing
- A one-time purchase of stock images, video clips, or music tracks on Shutterstock.com
- A free trial that converted to a paid Shutterstock subscription
- A team member or colleague using a shared Shutterstock account linked to your payment method
How to Verify the SHUTTERSTOCK* Charge
- 1
Log into your Shutterstock account
Visit shutterstock.com and sign in, then go to 'Billing & Payments' under your account settings to review your invoice history and confirm the SHUTTERSTOCK* charge amount matches.
- 2
Search your email for Shutterstock receipts
Search your inbox for emails from 'noreply@shutterstock.com' or 'billing@shutterstock.com' â Shutterstock sends a receipt for every subscription renewal or image purchase.
- 3
Check if a household member signed up
Ask family members or colleagues if they created a Shutterstock account or downloaded images using your shared payment method, as the SHUTTERSTOCK* charge may belong to them.
- 4
Review any active Shutterstock subscriptions
Check shutterstock.com under 'Plan & Billing' to see if you have an active subscription tier â monthly plans, annual plans, and image packs all generate recurring SHUTTERSTOCK* charges.
- 5
Contact your bank for charge details
If you still can't place the SHUTTERSTOCK* charge, call the number on the back of your card and ask for the full merchant details and transaction date to cross-reference with your Shutterstock usage.
How to Dispute a SHUTTERSTOCK* Charge
- 1
Act within 60 days of the charge
Most banks require disputes to be filed within 60 days of the SHUTTERSTOCK* charge appearing on your statement, so don't delay if you believe the charge is unauthorized or incorrect.
- 2
Contact Shutterstock support first
Reach out to Shutterstock directly at shutterstock.com/support or via live chat â they can verify the charge, issue refunds for accidental renewals, and cancel your subscription before you escalate to your bank.
- 3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Shutterstock cannot resolve the issue, call your bank or card issuer to dispute the SHUTTERSTOCK* charge as unauthorized. Provide your email receipts or lack thereof as supporting evidence.
- 4
Request a new card number
If the SHUTTERSTOCK* charge appears to be fraudulent and you never had a Shutterstock account, ask your bank to issue a replacement card to prevent any further unauthorized charges.
Tips for Managing Shutterstock Charges
Enable billing email alerts in Shutterstock settings so you're notified before each SHUTTERSTOCK* renewal charge hits your card.
Download your Shutterstock invoices monthly and store them â this makes it easy to match any SHUTTERSTOCK* charge on your statement.
Secure your Shutterstock account with a strong password and two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized purchases under your account.
Note your Shutterstock billing cycle renewal date so you can anticipate the SHUTTERSTOCK* charge and aren't caught off guard.
Use a virtual card number for Shutterstock subscriptions to limit exposure if your payment info is ever compromised.
Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify related charges or variations of the SHUTTERSTOCK* descriptor on your statement.
Frequently Asked Questions About the SHUTTERSTOCK* Charge
âšī¸ Note
In most cases, the SHUTTERSTOCK* charge is a legitimate billing from Shutterstock for a subscription or image download you â or someone with access to your payment method â authorized. A quick check of your Shutterstock account billing history can usually confirm the charge within minutes.
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