I haven’t authorized Shopping Gives, so there should not be any activity. If they are the ones who did this, that would be unauthorized. But I suspect it is someone else. Either way, it’s disturbing. I’m checking my account every day. My bank, which is a big one, said I don’t need to close the account. But do be sure to contact your bank about any weird transactions. You can’t be too careful.
Topic summary
Multiple Shopify merchants reported suspicious micro-deposits and withdrawals in their bank accounts labeled “shopify ACCTVERIFY” or similar variations. The transactions typically involved two small deposits (under $1) followed by a matching withdrawal.
Initial Concerns:
- Merchants initially suspected fraud, as transactions appeared even on accounts with strong security measures
- Some affected accounts had never been linked to Shopify Payments or were previously disconnected from Shopify Balance
- Shopify support initially had no information and advised merchants to contact their banks
- Banks recommended blocking the transactions and, in some cases, closing accounts
Potential Explanations Explored:
- One user suggested the app Shopping Gives uses similar verification deposits, but most affected merchants didn’t use this service
- A Reddit post mentioned Stripe processing as a possible source
Official Resolution:
Shopify staff confirmed this was an unintended glitch from a Shopify update on/after April 26, 2023. The micro-deposits were accidental account verifications affecting external bank accounts that had previously transacted with Shopify Balance. Shopify apologized for the lack of advance notice and acknowledged support staff initially provided incorrect information due to being unaware of the issue.
Status: Issue reportedly resolved, though some merchants requested additional verification and expressed concern about the lack of official email communication.