Charge Explainer
§ 01 · DESCRIPTOR

What is PP*STEAM GAMES on your bank statement?

Here's what this charge most likely is, grounded in our prefix dictionary and what the descriptor itself contains.

High confidence

This charge appears to be a purchase on Steam, Valve's digital PC gaming platform, paid through PayPal.

Most likely: Steam (Valve Corporation)
a digital PC gaming storefront
Processed by: PayPal
PayPal processed this payment on your behalf. The 'PP*' prefix means Steam (or a Steam-related purchase) was the recipient, with PayPal acting as the payment middleman.
Category
Gaming / Digital Entertainment

Doesn't look right? Things you could check:

  • Check your Steam purchase historyLogging into your Steam account and visiting Account Details → Store Transactions will show a record of any recent purchases tied to your account.
  • Check your PayPal activityYour PayPal account's transaction history will show the exact amount, date, and recipient name for this payment.
  • Look for a confirmation emailSteam typically sends a receipt to the email address associated with your Steam account when a purchase is made.
  • Consider whether someone else has accessIf you share a computer or a Steam Family account, another authorized user may have made the purchase.
WHAT THE DESCRIPTOR TELLS US

The payment was handled through PayPal. The name after PP* is the merchant or seller PayPal paid on your behalf. After the PP* prefix the descriptor reads “STEAM GAMES” — that leftover text is the most likely seller.

Check a different charge

Paste your own variant of this descriptor — the result appears right here.

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RELATED DESCRIPTORS
  • PP*EBAY

    This charge appears to be a payment made to eBay through PayPal.

  • PP*ETSY SELLER

    This appears to be a payment made through PayPal to a seller on Etsy, the online handmade and vintage goods marketplace.

  • PP*GRUBHUB

    This charge appears to be a Grubhub food delivery order, paid through PayPal.

  • PP*SPOTIFY

    This appears to be a Spotify subscription payment processed through PayPal.

The PP* prefix has its own page: What does PP* mean on a statement?