r/OpenAI

OpenAI completely emptied my bank account for an org I don’t recognize. Please help me get support (I'm freaking out)

2026-08-07 · 03:25 UTC ·u/TheWorstGameDev ·3 min read

Brief

u/TheWorstGameDev reported on 2026-08-07 that several unauthorized $500 OpenAI API recharges (three occurring around 4:30 a.m.) wiped their bank account down to $9; each confirmation email pointed to an unfamiliar organization named "Acm" (org-...) that does not show up in their OpenAI account or billing history. The OP says "Acm" had auto-recharge enabled and repeatedly charged their payment method until a later OpenAI email said auto-recharge was disabled after a failed charge. The OP contacted TD Bank (told disputes must wait until charges post), OpenAI Support (initial case canceled by the bot), and Trust & Safety, secured API keys, and provided screenshots. About 30 hours after the first charge they received an auto refund, community attention led to a forum request for the ticket, and a human support email arrived; the OP cautioned others not to use debit cards for subscriptions.

Why it matters

u/TheWorstGameDev (posted 2026-08-07 03:25:22 UTC) reported multiple unauthorized $500 OpenAI API charges (three successful charges around 4:30 a.m.) that reduced their bank balance to $9; the billing emails referenced an unknown organization named "Acm" with an org-ID starting org-...

Key details

  • The unknown org "Acm" was configured with auto-recharge and repeatedly charged the OP's card; the organization does not appear in the OP's OpenAI account or billing history and the OP cannot access it, but OpenAI emailed that auto-recharge was later disabled after a failed attempt.
  • The OP contacted TD Bank (was told transactions can't be disputed until pending charges post), opened OpenAI Support (the case was canceled by the support bot), filed a report with OpenAI Trust & Safety, secured API credentials, and provided screenshots/timestamps to support teams.
  • Roughly 30 hours after the first charge the OP received an automatic refund from OpenAI but warned the project that used their card remained inaccessible and could still be charged; community attention prompted a forum request for the ticket and a human support email arrived subsequently—OP advised against using a debit card for subscriptions.
Source evidence

Hi everyone,
I'm posting here because I'm desperate for help and hoping someone from OpenAI sees this or someone has experienced something similar.
Early this morning, I received multiple separate $500 charges from OpenAI, which completely wiped out my bank account, i literally have $9 left.
I did not make or authorize any of these purchases.
I also received emails from OpenAI confirming that each $500 charge was used to purchase OpenAI API credits but the emails reference an OpenAI organization called "Acm" with an organization ID starting with org-....
I have never heard of this organization. It does not appear anywhere in my OpenAI Platform account, and I cannot access it.
When I go into my own OpenAI billing history, the purchases don't appear there either.
Then tonight I received another email from OpenAI saying:
"Your organization Acm is configured to automatically purchase more credits when your balance is low. The most recent attempt to charge your payment method failed, so auto-recharge has been disabled."

This seems to explain why I was charged $500 repeatedly.
It seems that this unknown organization was using API credits, hitting a low balance, automatically charging my payment method for another $500, consuming those credits, and then automatically charging me again.
The three successful charges happened within a very short period this morning at around 4:30am.
There was then apparently another $500 recharge attempt tonight.
The auto-recharge failure email was addressed to me AND another recipient that I do not recognize. I have no idea who this other person/account is or why we're both receiving billing notifications for this organization.
I've already:
Contacted TD Bank and reported the transactions as unauthorized. They told me they cannot formally dispute them until the pending charges post.
Contacted OpenAI Support. (The case was canceled because the auto ai couldn't see the transactions and there is NO DAMN HUMAN SUPPORT!)
Sent a detailed report to OpenAI Trust & Safety as per the bot instruction
Explained that I don't recognize the organization.
Secured my OpenAI account and API credentials.
Sent screenshots showing the charges, billing emails, unknown organization, and failed auto-recharge.

I'm kind of freaking out because I literally don't have any money all of a sudden and I haven't heard anything from OpenAI yet.
If anyone from OpenAI sees this, please help me get this in front of the appropriate API billing/fraud team. I have screenshots, timestamps, the organization ID and bank transactions.
If anyone has experienced unauthorized API auto recharges like this before, I'd also REALLY appreciate hearing how it was resolved and if you got a refund

EDIT 12 hours after posting (about 30 hours since the first charge):
Still nobody has reached out to me from OpenAI, but have received an auto refund from openAI. Which sounds great but doesn't help because the project using my card is still inaccessible so will still be charged. Exactly 1 minute ago whilst typing this someone responded to me asking for the ticket on the forums, finally.
10 mins since that last edit and have finally received a support email from a human!!! WIll update once everything is settled with a final update.
Thank you all so much for your advice and helping this get some attention, I'm just so grateful as I was getting nowhere without your help. Please all don't be like me and use a debit card for a subscription service.

Subreddit: r/OpenAI