SURFSHARK* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

Surfshark uses the truncated billing descriptor "SURFSHARK*" on bank statements because payment processors like Stripe and Braintree often shorten merchant names to fit within the character limits imposed by card networks such as Visa and Mastercard, which typically allow only 22 characters for a billing descriptor. The asterisk following the name is a common separator used by these processors to distinguish the merchant name from any additional transaction detail, such as a subscription plan or region code, that may follow it. If you see "SURFSHARK*" on your statement, it is almost certainly a legitimate charge for your monthly Surfshark VPN subscription, which typically runs around $12.95.

No, this is a legitimate charge from Surfshark VPN. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

Frequently Asked Questions