These folks just hit my credit card for 5.77

Same here.  $5.77 charge was on 9/4/08.  Same phone number was given as reference.  When I called the number all I got was a mumbling recording.  I called the CC company and they removed it immediately, saying that they had had similar complaints.

Same 5.77 charged, The call is some mumbeling guy who said he would be back in 40 minutes.  What a scam

I also received a charge from Art Sparta in the amount of $5.77. This is a fraud. Please notify your credit card company and report this.

I also received a 5.77 charge from Art Sparta on my card which I haven't used for over 6 months.

Same here.  Same charge, same date, same everything.  CC Company removed it immediately.  Google the number and you see how many complaints there are for this same scam.  Scary thing is how they got our credit card numbers to begin with.

ditto here,  charge for 5.77 on my credit card from 8/18 and the cc company couldn't find or give any info on who this is.

just got my statment from my bank suntrust.l also got a charge from art sparta for 5.77 on hold with my bank now

Sounds like someone has sold your cc #.  Similar thing happened to me not long ago - turned out the waiter at a restaurant was collecting cc #'s and selling them online.  Then companies like ArtSparta bid on them or buy them up.  I no longer let my cc leave my sight at restaurants.  It can be a pain however, it's better than cleaning up ID theft.

I just received a charge on my credit card in the amt of 5.77 also from ART SPARTA.  Amount is small and normally wouldn't raise a red flag but if they are target of other accounts it can add up. Quite a fraud.  I have reported this to the Fraud Dept of my credit card company. Check all your statements.

This sucks! With all the identity theft and credit card scams, I am not pleased about this at all. I have not used this credit card in months but thank goodness I still go online to make my payments and check the balance.

I disputed the $5.77 charge with the credit card company and they removed it. They gave me the phone number, 281-940-7199. I got the same strange message as everyone else. I then found this website so I immediately called my credit card company back and closed the account. After reading the messages above, I know that it is some shady stuff going on and many people besides me are being affected. I don't know how they got my account number but they will not be able to charge on the card again.

I suggest changing your account number. I feel better now that I have. You know what really ticks me off! These jerks are probably getting paid. Let's see if they randomly charge 1,000 people $5.77 illegally each month on the 1st, that is $5,770! B*****ds!

A $5.77 charge appeared on 9/4/08.  I called the CC company today and was at first told the charge would be disputed.  However after 30 secs of being on hold, I was told the charge would be removed; they had evidently had similar complaints.  I called GoDaddy in an effort to at least have the site disabled since I assume the people responsible are phishing for additional information so they can possibly phish for more.  I wound up sending an email to abuse@godaddy.com with the details of what had happened and what I had found out.  I also called L3 communications (877-877-0648) since they appear to own the phone number, but the process to actually shut down the number has to begin with law enforcement, and I'm assuming nothing would ever happen to the people even if they were inside the US.  No wonder this country is going to hell.

Anyway, if others have the time, complain, complain, complain.  It's not much, but since a baseball bat to the head is out of the question, this is about as good as you can get.

Just received my statement with a $5.77 unauthorized charge on it from Art Sparta with a number of 281-940-7199.  Don't know how they got my info.  I rarely use this card and only used in about 5 places.  This issuing bank is First Usa.  Called the CC Company and disputed the transaction.

Same story--never have been to Vegas...how did they get my debit card number???????? I never even got a call, I just saw the phone number on my bank statement.

My b/f received this charge as well-same amount and phone #.  He is working on disputing the charge and talking to his cc company.  These people are smart.  It is a smart scam/theft.  This little amount will not raise red flags with banks but will add up fast.  Oh well, the age of easy technology is now biting us in the rear.
p.s. He never went to Vegas.

I had the exact same name and charge on my credit card this month. No idea about it.

I just received a charge on my credit card in the amt of 5.77 also.  Amount is small and normally wouldn't raise a red flag but if they are target of other accounts it can add up.  I tried calling them but it was too fast and too blurry so that you could not understand a thing.

Same thing here. Charged $5.77. The really wierd thing is, this is a card I usually don't use. Had to go digging in the back of my wallet for it. Card I have is expired. Used it in June in VEGAS. Other than that, haven't used it in almost a year.  Anybody else go to Las Vegas recently??

I disputed the charge with my cc company and they had the account closed. Of course, there is no way the culprit will ever be found this way but they wouldn't allow it to remain open.

If you want the peace of mind, I suggest disputing the charge with your cc company and reporting the charge to their fraud investigations department. They will most likely close the account and issue new cards.

Believe me, I know how frustrating this can be.

This is really scary. Thanks for the info, I'm considering canceling my card. I'm definitely going to keep a close eye on my account, that's for sure.

I'm having the same problem as everyone else. The amount doesn't concern me, but now I'm wondering if I should cancel my card. I really hate thieves.

Doesn't look like the same bank; mine is Chase. I am trying to figure out how my number was compromised. I am usually very careful.

I too wonder how this has happened I live in NJ it would be interesting to find out if we all had the same bank mine is BoA, formerly Fleet Boston.

Had the $5.77 charge on my CC, too.  Number on statement is the 281-940-7199.  Called CC to have it disputed.  Not worried about the $5.77 as much as how they managed to get the info to charge my CC.  I live in MN, wondering if there are any similarities to other's situations.

they nabbed me too. I cannot figure out how, though. WTF

Had the charge from ART SPARTA on my credit card, $5.77. CC Co. told me the number associated with the charge was (281) 940-7199.

this is some weird scam, i guess to capture your phone number for telecalls. I had exactly the same thing appear on my card for $5.77, the robotic voice is still there as answering.
now i am worried as to how they got this number and what will be next...

I forgot to mention that even though art sparta lists its business address as being in Houston,Texas the domain registration list an address in Hong Kong.

The phone service provider for this number is listed as Ionex Communications and is based in Dallas, Texas. However, I haven't been able to find a working customer service number for this company and their website has been taken down.

I too noticed this charge on my credit card today. I called my bank and had to have my card canceled and the charge reported as fraudulent. I tried calling this number and got a very weird recorded message that was in a robotic voice. It said something to the effect that their operators were busy but to submit a contact request form on their website and that they would call me back. I had no idea what website they were talking about but I tried artsparta.com and found the same phone number listed on that site.

When I did a who is search on that domain I found that it was only registered in May of this year. Under the news section of the website it offers this information:

"Welcome To ArtSparta.com!

March 29th, 2008
Welcome to ArtSparta - the best website in the world of images and art-galleries. Within one place, you will be able to find everything, from desktop images, up to the professional photos. High-quality images database will help you in resolving day-to-day problems!!

We apologize, but the website is under construction at the moment. In a couple of days it will be launched and be able to work completely."

It is very weird indeed. Under the contact us section it offers the following information:

"Support Person: Michael Partacus
Location:
Office# 2053, 14781 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079
E-mail Address: support@artsparta.com
Telephone: (281) 940-7199


Please Note: To request a money back service, please, go to Money Back page and fill in the form."

I found it very interesting that they specifically have a money back request form as if they know people will be coming to the site to see who they are and why they are charging their credit card. It seems to me like they are phishing for more information so they can steal your identity. As tempting as it was I resisted the urge to provide them with any more information. I would suggest others do the same.

I will try to post other information as I find it

I had a charge on my credit card from this number (Art Sparta).  $5.77 for I know not what.  I'm going to put the charge in dispute.

we received the same amount 5.77 on our credit card and we are searching for what it is. Have you found out any thing? If you do will you please contact me? Thanks