What exactly is the SURFSHARK* charge on my bank statement?

The SURFSHARK* charge is the official billing descriptor used by Surfshark VPN when processing subscription payments. It appears for monthly, annual, and 2-year VPN plan renewals or new purchases.

Why does the charge say SURFSHARK* instead of Surfshark VPN?

Banks and card networks display shortened merchant descriptors. Surfshark VPN uses 'SURFSHARK*' as its billing name, which is normal and does not indicate fraud or an error.

Can I get a refund for a SURFSHARK* charge?

Yes — Surfshark VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Contact their support team at surfshark.com/support within 30 days of your purchase or renewal to request a full refund.

How do I cancel my Surfshark VPN subscription to stop charges?

Log into your account at surfshark.com, go to 'Billing', and select 'Cancel Subscription'. If you subscribed via the App Store or Google Play, cancel directly through those platforms to stop future SURFSHARK* charges.

How do I stop future SURFSHARK* charges if I no longer use the service?

Cancel your Surfshark VPN subscription before the next renewal date and confirm cancellation via email. You can also contact Surfshark VPN support to ensure auto-renewal is fully disabled on your account.

Home›Browse Charges›Tech›SURFSHARK*

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

✓ Legitimate

The "SURFSHARK*" charge is from Surfshark VPN. Surfshark VPN subscription.

🌍 US🕐 7 min read📅 Updated May 22, 2026

Surfshark VPN

Surfshark VPN subscription.

SURFSHARK*

Why does this charge appear?

Surfshark VPN uses the abbreviated billing descriptor "SURFSHARK*" on bank statements because payment processors typically enforce strict character limits on transaction descriptions, forcing companies to shorten their display name to fit within the available space. The asterisk following "SURFSHARK" is a standard formatting convention used by payment processors like Stripe or Braintree to separate the merchant name from any additional order or subscription detail that may follow. If you see this charge on your statement and recognize subscribing to Surfshark's VPN service, it is almost certainly your recurring monthly subscription of around $12.95.

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Your next steps

Confirm your Surfshark subscription

Log in to your Surfshark account at surfshark.com and check your subscription details to confirm that the SURFSHARK* charge on your bank statement matches the plan you signed up for, including the billing amount and renewal date.

Check which email is linked to Surfshark VPN

If you are unsure which account triggered the SURFSHARK* charge, search your email inbox for receipts or confirmation messages from Surfshark VPN. This will help you identify the exact account and verify the transaction is yours.

Review or cancel your Surfshark VPN plan

If you no longer want the Surfshark VPN subscription or did not intend to be billed, visit surfshark.com/account to manage your plan, turn off auto-renewal, or cancel your subscription before the next billing cycle.

Contact Surfshark VPN support if the charge seems wrong

If the SURFSHARK* charge amount does not match your expected plan price or you see duplicate charges, reach out to Surfshark VPN customer support directly through surfshark.com to request clarification or a refund before disputing with your bank.

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How to cancel Surfshark VPN

Surfshark VPN bills you Monthly. To stop future charges, cancel from your account directly.

Cancel at Surfshark VPN

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Legitimate or scam?

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.

Is the SURFSHARK* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

If you see SURFSHARK* on your bank or credit card statement, it is most likely a legitimate charge from Surfshark VPN, a popular cybersecurity service offering VPN, antivirus, and data breach alert tools. Surfshark uses the billing descriptor SURFSHARK* for all subscription transactions, which can sometimes catch customers off guard if they forgot they signed up. Before assuming fraud, consider the following common reasons this charge appears:

You purchased a Surfshark VPN subscription (monthly, annual, or 2-year plan)
Your Surfshark VPN subscription automatically renewed after your billing cycle ended
A family member or household user signed up using your payment method
You started a free trial of Surfshark VPN that has now converted to a paid plan

How to Verify the SURFSHARK* Charge

1
Log into your Surfshark VPN account
Visit surfshark.com and sign in to your account. Navigate to 'Billing' or 'Subscription' to review your active plan and recent payment history to confirm the SURFSHARK* charge.
2
Search your email for Surfshark receipts
Search your inbox for emails from Surfshark VPN using keywords like 'Surfshark', 'SURFSHARK*', or 'receipt'. Confirmation and renewal emails are sent to the address used at sign-up.
3
Check with household members
Ask family members or anyone with access to your payment details if they signed up for Surfshark VPN. Surfshark offers multi-device plans, so a shared subscription is common.
4
Review your device subscriptions
Check your app subscriptions on iOS (App Store > Apple ID > Subscriptions) or Android (Google Play > Subscriptions) to see if Surfshark VPN is listed as an active subscription.
5
Contact your bank for details
If you still cannot verify the SURFSHARK* charge, call the number on the back of your card. Ask your bank for the full merchant details, transaction date, and amount to cross-reference with Surfshark VPN's records.

How to Dispute a SURFSHARK* Charge

1
Act within 60 days of the charge
Most banks require disputes to be filed within 60 days of the SURFSHARK* charge appearing on your statement. Act quickly to preserve your right to a full chargeback or refund.
2
Contact Surfshark VPN support first
Reach out to Surfshark VPN's customer support at surfshark.com/support via live chat or email. Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you may qualify for a direct refund without involving your bank.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Surfshark VPN does not resolve the issue, contact your bank or card issuer to file a formal chargeback for the SURFSHARK* charge. Provide any correspondence with Surfshark VPN as supporting evidence.
4
Request a new card number
If the SURFSHARK* charge appears fraudulent and you did not authorize it, ask your bank to cancel your current card and issue a new one to prevent any further unauthorized charges.

Tips for Managing Surfshark VPN Charges

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Enable billing alerts in your Surfshark VPN account so you're notified before SURFSHARK* renewal charges hit.

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Save your Surfshark VPN confirmation email so you can easily match future SURFSHARK* charges to your plan.

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Keep your Surfshark VPN login credentials stored securely so you can quickly verify billing details anytime.

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Note your Surfshark VPN renewal date and set a calendar reminder a few days before to avoid surprise charges.

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Use a virtual card number for Surfshark VPN to limit exposure if you want to avoid recurring SURFSHARK* charges.

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Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify related charges or other unfamiliar billing descriptors on your statement.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, the SURFSHARK* charge is a routine and legitimate billing from Surfshark VPN for an active subscription or auto-renewal — simply log into your Surfshark account to confirm the details and put your mind at ease.