What exactly does TARGET* mean on my bank statement?

TARGET* is the merchant descriptor that Target Corporation uses for payment processing. It appears on your statement whenever a transaction is made in-store, online, or through the Target app.

Why does the charge say TARGET* instead of just 'Target'?

Banks often truncate or format merchant names with asterisks and prefixes due to payment processor naming conventions. TARGET* is simply how Target's charges are formatted by their payment processor on statements.

Can I get a refund for a TARGET* charge?

Yes. Target accepts returns within 90 days of purchase (or 120 days for Target Circle Card holders). Refunds for TARGET* charges are typically returned to your original payment method within 1–5 business days.

How do I cancel my Target Circle 360 membership to stop recurring charges?

Log into your Target account, go to 'Account Settings,' and select 'Target Circle 360' to manage or cancel your membership. You can also call Target at 1-800-440-0680 for assistance.

How do I stop future unauthorized TARGET* charges?

Remove your saved payment methods from Target.com under account settings, update your password, and enable two-factor authentication. If fraud is confirmed, request a new card number from your bank.

Home›Browse Charges›Shopping›TARGET*

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

✓ Legitimate

The "TARGET*" charge is from Target. Target online or in-store purchase.

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

Target

Target online or in-store purchase.

TARGET*

Why does this charge appear?

When Target processes a payment — whether you're shopping in one of their stores or checking out on Target.com — their payment system transmits a shortened identifier to your bank rather than the full retailer name. The "TARGET*" descriptor is the result of how Target's internal billing and point-of-sale infrastructure communicates transaction data, with the asterisk acting as a separator that sometimes precedes additional detail like a store number or order reference depending on your bank's display format. If you see TARGET* followed by extra characters on your statement, it's all part of the same Target purchase and is not a sign of an unauthorized or duplicate charge.

🛡️

Got a suspicious message or link?

Free

Detect scams in seconds — texts, emails, websites & more, instant results.

🛡️ Check for Scam →

✅

Your next steps

Check Your Target Order History

Log in to your Target account at target.com and review your recent order history to match the TARGET* charge on your bank statement with a specific purchase, whether made online or in-store.

Review Your Target Circle Activity

If you are a Target Circle member, check your rewards and purchase activity in your account at target.com to confirm the charge aligns with a recent transaction and see if any points or discounts were applied.

Locate Your Target Receipt

Check your email for a Target order confirmation or digital receipt that matches the charge amount. For in-store purchases, Target can also resend receipts through your account at target.com if you used a loyalty card or Target app at checkout.

Manage or Cancel a Target Subscription

If the TARGET* charge appears to be from a recurring Target subscription such as Drive Up, Same-Day Delivery, or a Target Circle 360 membership, visit target.com/account to review and manage or cancel any active subscriptions or services.

🛡

Legitimate or scam?

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

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 — 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.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, a TARGET* charge is simply a legitimate purchase or subscription from Target — 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.