STARS_BOT.COM charge on your bank statement

Why does STARS_BOT.COM appear on my bank or credit card statement?

A "STARS_BOT.COM" or "starsbot.com" descriptor on a card statement typically indicates a payment processed through a Telegram-based service that uses Stars-related billing infrastructure. This includes Telegram channel subscriptions, paid bots, community memberships, and one-time purchases inside Telegram bots or mini-apps. The descriptor is a billing-processor identifier, not a single company or product.

Is a STARS_BOT.COM charge legitimate?

In the vast majority of cases, yes. The descriptor is used by legitimate Telegram-based merchants for subscription billing or one-time purchases. If you have an active subscription to a paid Telegram channel, a paid bot, or a Telegram-based community, the charge most likely corresponds to that subscription. As with any merchant descriptor, fraudulent use is possible — see the dispute steps below if you do not recognize the charge.

How can I identify which subscription or service the charge is from?

Check your Telegram account for active paid subscriptions. On the Telegram app, open Settings → Telegram Premium / Subscriptions, and review your active billing relationships. Separately, review email receipts for the charge date — most Telegram-based merchants send a receipt to the email you used at checkout. The charge amount and date on your statement should match a receipt in your inbox.

How do I cancel a subscription billed via STARS_BOT.COM?

Cancellation depends on the underlying merchant. For Telegram channel subscriptions, leaving the channel does not cancel billing — you must cancel the subscription through the receipt link or through the bot that originally took your payment. Search your email for the original receipt and use the cancellation link provided. If the receipt has been lost, contact your card issuer for guidance on how to stop future recurring charges.

What if I do not recognize the STARS_BOT.COM charge at all?

If you cannot match the charge to any active Telegram subscription, paid bot, or community membership: (1) check whether a family member or co-cardholder may have subscribed to a Telegram service, (2) search your email for any receipts containing the charge amount, and (3) if no explanation is found, contact your card issuer and request a chargeback under the "transaction not recognized" reason code. Card issuers typically refund unrecognized charges and investigate.

Is STARS_BOT.COM the same as Telegram Stars?

Not exactly. Telegram Stars is Telegram's official in-app currency used for digital goods inside the Telegram app, governed by Telegram's payment system. STARS_BOT.COM is a billing descriptor used by external (web-checkout) payment processors when handling Telegram-related subscriptions and payments outside the Telegram app environment. The two systems are related — both serve Telegram-based commerce — but operate through different payment rails.

Why is the descriptor styled with an underscore?

Standard internet domain names cannot contain underscores. The "STARS_BOT.COM" styling on card statements is a formatting convention used by some card networks and merchant descriptors. The actual website is at starsbot.com (no underscore). If a charge appears on your statement and you wish to look up information, navigate to starsbot.com directly.

How do I dispute a STARS_BOT.COM charge I believe is unauthorized?

Contact the bank or card issuer that issued the card on which the charge appeared. Provide them with: the charge date, the exact amount, the descriptor text as it appears, and a brief statement that you do not recognize the transaction. Most card issuers can process a chargeback or open an investigation. Card issuer dispute timelines vary by jurisdiction (typically 60–120 days from the statement date in the EU and US).