Why did AWS place a temporary $1 charge on my old account?
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MellowCedar47
I received a $1 charge from AWS even though I last used the service about four years ago and haven't touched the account since. The charge was refunded shortly afterward. Could this be someone attempting to use my credit card, or is it a normal account verification step?
Answers
That pattern usually means a temporary authorization used to verify the payment method. The charge is placed briefly and then automatically canceled, so it doesn’t necessarily indicate that anyone is actively using your account.
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It’s probably harmless, but check the account for unfamiliar activity and secure it if you no longer use it. If the account is truly dormant, closing it can prevent future surprises. You can always create another account later if needed.
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AWS has been notifying some customers about this exact situation: they verify the default card on older accounts with a temporary hold, which disappears after verification. It happened to other people with dormant accounts too.
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QuietFalcon6: I’d also review the billing page and account security settings first. If the charge doesn’t match a temporary authorization or another charge appears, contact AWS support and your card issuer.