A “Clash Nicosia” charge on your credit card or bank statement is almost always an in-app purchase from a Supercell mobile game — Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, or another title in the same family — processed through a payment entity registered in Nicosia, Cyprus. Supercell itself is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, and has no offices in Cyprus; the Nicosia label reflects the European billing entity that handled the transaction, not the game’s developer.1Supercell. About Us So the charge is usually legitimate. Whether you want to keep it is another question.
Why the Descriptor Says Nicosia
Card statements show a billing descriptor that identifies the merchant and its registered location. Cyprus is a common jurisdiction for European payment processing subsidiaries, so digital services beyond gaming route transactions through Nicosia-based entities and show up on statements as “NICOSIA CY,” “NICOSIA CYP,” or a company name followed by those location codes.2Slash. FIVERREU Nicosia Charge Identifier The location alone doesn’t tell you fraud has occurred.
Check the Obvious Sources First
Supercell’s games are free to download but sell in-game items priced from $0.99 to $99.99, processed through Apple’s App Store, Google Play, or the Supercell Store.3Supercell. Parents Guide Before assuming fraud, run through the likely explanations:
- A child using a device linked to your payment method bought gems, gold, or diamonds. Supercell treats accidental child purchases as a valid refund reason.4Supercell Support. Refunds
- An accidental tap on a purchase button.
- A legitimate purchase you made days or weeks ago and forgot about.
- An actual unauthorized charge, if nobody with access to your device or account is responsible.
How to Get a Refund
Supercell does not store your card information; the payment went through Apple, Google, or the Supercell Store, and that’s where the refund request has to go.3Supercell. Parents Guide
Apple (iOS) Purchases
Go to reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in, choose “Request a refund,” pick the reason, select the transaction, and submit. Apple usually responds within 24 to 48 hours.5Apple Support. Request a Refund for Apps or Content Supercell cannot process iOS refunds; Apple owns that decision entirely.
Google Play Purchases
On Android, open the game and go to Settings, then Help and Support, and tap the contact button in the upper-right corner. Valid reasons include unauthorized purchases, accidental purchases, duplicate charges, and bugs affecting shop items. Approved refunds can take up to 10 business days.4Supercell Support. Refunds For unauthorized charges you can also report directly to Google at payments.google.com. Google can act on credit or debit card transactions within 120 days, and on mobile carrier-billed transactions within 60 days.6Google Play Help. Report Unauthorized Charges on Google Play
Supercell Store Purchases
For purchases made on the web-based Supercell Store, contact Supercell Support and provide the purchase receipt with any personally identifiable information redacted. Refunds go back to the original payment method. Processing times vary by provider, from one business day for some methods up to 30 days for Apple Pay or PayPal.7Supercell Support. Store Refunds
What You May Not Get Back
Supercell’s policy states that purchases of virtual items are final and non-refundable except where required by law.8Supercell. Store Refund and Cancellation Policy If the in-game items from the purchase have already been used, a refund can leave the account with a negative gem or diamond balance, because the value of the spent items gets clawed back.4Supercell Support. Refunds
Disputing the Charge With Your Bank
If the app store denies the refund or you’re confident the charge is unauthorized, dispute it with your card issuer. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, your personal liability for unauthorized credit card charges is capped at $50, and you owe nothing for charges made after you report the card stolen.9Discover. Fair Credit Billing Act
To open a formal dispute, send written notice to the address your card issuer designates for billing inquiries, not the payment address. Include your name, account number, the charge amount and date, and why you’re disputing it, along with copies of any supporting documents. The notice must reach the issuer within 60 days of the statement date that first showed the charge.10Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges Certified mail with a return receipt creates a paper trail.
Once your dispute arrives, the issuer must acknowledge it in writing within 30 days and resolve it within 90 days. You can withhold payment on the disputed amount during the investigation without being reported delinquent.10Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges Most banks also let you file disputes online or by phone; Bank of America, for instance, allows disputes through the Activity tab in online banking.11Bank of America. Credit Card Disputes FAQ One caveat: Supercell asks customers to contact the company before initiating a bank chargeback.8Supercell. Store Refund and Cancellation Policy
Preventing It From Happening Again
Supercell’s games do not have their own parental controls for purchases. The company points parents to the tools built into iOS and Android.12Supercell Support. Preventing and Managing In-App Purchases
- On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, then Screen Time, then Content & Privacy Restrictions. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases, then In-app Purchases, and choose “Don’t Allow.” If a child has their own device through Family Sharing, turn on “Ask to Buy” so every purchase needs parental approval.13Apple Support. Prevent In-App Purchases
- On Android, use Google Family Link to require a parent’s approval for any in-app purchase.14Google Families Help. Manage Your Child’s Account on Google Play
- Remove stored payment methods from the device and from the Supercell Store account. Without saved payment information, no purchase can complete.3Supercell. Parents Guide
If You Suspect Actual Fraud
If nobody in your household made the purchase, the charge may point to a compromised card number or account. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency recommends placing a fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus, which will notify the other two: Equifax (1-800-525-6285), Experian (1-888-397-3742), or TransUnion (1-800-680-7289). The alert lasts one year and makes opening new accounts in your name harder. You can also report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov to build a recovery plan, file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov, and file a report with local law enforcement.15Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Credit Card and Debit Card Fraud If your Apple or Google account itself has been compromised, contact that company’s fraud team directly.3Supercell. Parents Guide