The short answer
SPK*SPOKEO is a subscription to Spokeo, the people-search site. The infamous pattern: a trial bought for one lookup (often under a dollar) converts to a monthly subscription of about $25 that keeps billing until cancelled.
Why it shows up like this
Spokeo sells cheap trial searches — look up a phone number once, pay $0.95 — with a subscription attached in the fine print. The conversion catches nearly everyone; SPK*SPOKEO is one of the most-searched descriptors in the caution category.
Don’t recognize it? You might still
- The trial was weeks ago and cost under a dollar — the $25 charge looks unrelated.
- You searched one phone number and never returned to the site.
- Renewals continue monthly until actively cancelled.
What to do, in order
- Cancel the subscription immediately Spokeo's account page or customer care cancels it; keep the confirmation email.
- Request a refund of unused months Spokeo customer care frequently refunds recent charges when asked directly — it's cheaper than disputes for them.
- Dispute if they resist Trial-to-subscription conversions are a well-known dispute category; banks handle them routinely.
Quick questions
I paid $0.95 once. Why am I charged $24.95 monthly?
The $0.95 search included a trial subscription that converted to the monthly rate — it's in the checkout fine print. Cancel and ask for refunds; escalate to a dispute if refused.
Independent reference — not affiliated with Spokeo, Inc.. Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.
Reviewed Aug 3, 2026 · high · About ChargeDecoder