Learn about the “WHAT IS AMAZON SVCS EUROPE ON MY BANK STATEMENT” charge and why it is showing on your credit card statement.
What is this charge for?
This is a charge from Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is a cloud computing platform provided by Amazon. AWS provides a variety of services to businesses and individuals, including web hosting, storage, and computing resources.
Amazon SVCS Europe refers to Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Europe. AWS has data centres located all over the world, including several locations in Europe, such as Ireland, Frankfurt, London, Paris, and Stockholm. When users sign up for AWS services, they are typically charged based on their usage of resources, such as the amount of data stored or the amount of computing power used.
How to determine whether a credit charge is fraudulent or unauthorised?
- Merchant
- Is the merchant’s name familiar to you, or does it look different from what you expect?
- Does the type of product or service align with what you usually purchase?
- Are there any complaints or fraud reports associated with the merchant?
- Amount
- Does the amount match what you remember spending, or is it significantly higher or lower?
- Is it a duplicate charge?
- Date of occurrence
- Does the date of the charge align with any known transactions?
- Potential recurring charge
- Was this charge expected as part of a subscription or regular payment?
- Authorised transaction
- Did you consciously make a purchase or subscribe to a service associated with this charge?
- Unauthorised charges
- Have you provided your credit card details to anyone or any service that could lead to unauthorised charges?
- Could someone else on your account have made the charge without your knowledge?
If you’re unfamiliar with the merchant and the transaction, it is likely a fraud or unauthorised transaction.
What should I do if I suspect fraud?
- Take note of the unfamiliar transaction, including the merchant’s name, the amount, and the date. Then gather documentation such as receipts, transaction confirmations or any correspondence related to the transaction in question.
- Call your bank or credit card company immediately to notify them of the suspected fraudulent charge. Ask them for a specific procedure for disputing the charge and request a fraud investigation.
- Secure your account by updating your online banking passwords, setting up alerts for new transactions, or freezing your credit.
- Check the status of your dispute and ask for written confirmation of the outcome.