Why You're Seeing "TARGET*" on Your Bank Statement
Why You're Seeing "TARGET*" on Your Bank Statement
A charge labeled TARGET* on your bank or credit card statement comes from Target, one of the largest retail chains in the United States. This descriptor appears when you make a purchase at a Target store, on Target.com, or through the Target app. The asterisk following 'TARGET' is a common formatting convention used in payment processing systems to separate the merchant name from additional transaction details. If you or someone with access to your card recently shopped at Target, this charge is almost certainly legitimate.
The TARGET* descriptor appears on your bank statement because payment processors truncate and format merchant names to fit within character limits used by banking systems. The asterisk is typically used as a separator, and depending on your bank, it may be followed by additional identifiers such as a store number, location, or order reference. This is standard practice for large retailers like Target that process millions of transactions across both physical stores and their online platform.
Is the TARGET* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?
If you see TARGET* on your bank or credit card statement, it almost always refers to a purchase made at Target stores or on Target.com. This merchant descriptor is used by Target Corporation for in-store, online, and app-based transactions. Common reasons you may see TARGET* include:
- An in-store purchase at a Target retail location
- An online order placed at Target.com or through the Target app
- A Target Circle 360 (formerly Target Circle Card) membership or subscription fee
- A same-day delivery or Drive Up order fulfilled through Target's Shipt service
How to Verify the TARGET* Charge
- 1
Log into your Target account
Visit Target.com or open the Target app and navigate to your order history. Match the charge amount and date to a recent order to confirm the TARGET* charge is yours.
- 2
Search your email for Target receipts
Search your inbox for emails from Target (no-reply@target.com or similar). Target sends digital receipts for every online order and many in-store purchases.
- 3
Check with household members
Ask family members or roommates if they used your card at Target. It's common for shared cards to produce unexpected TARGET* charges from someone else's shopping trip.
- 4
Review Target Circle 360 subscription
If you signed up for Target Circle 360, check whether your annual or monthly membership fee has renewed. This will appear as a TARGET* charge on your statement.
- 5
Contact your bank for details
If you still can't place the charge, call the number on the back of your card. Your bank can provide the exact transaction date, amount, and location associated with the TARGET* charge.
How to Dispute a TARGET* Charge
- 1
Act within 60 days
Most banks require you to dispute unauthorized charges within 60 days of the statement date. Don't delay if you don't recognize the TARGET* charge on your account.
- 2
Contact Target customer service first
Reach Target's customer service at 1-800-440-0680 or via Target.com's help center. Target can often resolve billing errors, duplicate charges, or return discrepancies faster than a bank dispute.
- 3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Target cannot resolve the issue, contact your bank or credit card issuer to file a formal chargeback for the TARGET* charge. Provide any order numbers or correspondence with Target as supporting evidence.
- 4
Request a new card if fraud is suspected
If you believe your card details were stolen and used at Target without your knowledge, ask your bank to cancel your current card and issue a replacement to prevent further unauthorized TARGET* charges.
Tips for Managing Target Charges
Set up bank alerts for any TARGET* charge over a custom threshold to catch unauthorized transactions instantly.
Save your Target.com order confirmation emails â they make it easy to match TARGET* charges on your statement.
Enable two-factor authentication on your Target account to prevent unauthorized purchases that could result in mystery TARGET* charges.
Note your Target Circle 360 renewal date so a recurring TARGET* membership fee never catches you off guard.
Use a dedicated card for Target purchases to make TARGET* charges easier to track and isolate on your statement.
Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify other unfamiliar charges that appear alongside TARGET* on your statement.
Frequently Asked Questions About the TARGET* Charge
âšī¸ Note
In most cases, a TARGET* charge is simply a legitimate purchase or subscription from Target â whether it's a recent in-store trip, a Target.com order, or a Target Circle 360 membership renewal. A quick check of your Target account order history will usually clear up any confusion in seconds.
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