Users in our "Spam and Scam busters forum" have been poking at a mystery: a $29.99 charge from a company named Pluto Data, has inexplicably begun showing up on credit card statements around the country. When users call the company's employed answering service for an explanation, they're informed they've purchased a CD or DVD they've never heard of.

The thread has quickly filled with Google searchers who face mysterious charges from PLUTO D NICOSIA. Pluto Data could be processing stolen credit card numbers for a third party, says a self-professed employee of Answerquick, an outfit employed by Pluto to handle their phone answering service.

"I personally don't know to what extent they're involved with the individual charges", he claims. "But I do know what my boss told me, and that's that they aren't the one's who are the actual recipient of your stolen card number."

Obviously someone has once again compromised a site's on-line credit card database and is going on a spending spree. As of Wednesday, Answerquick stopped taking calls for Pluto Data, and dropped them as a client, leaving many people with bogus charges but no answers.

Therefore, we're calling on the Broadband Reports community to lend their expertise, take a look at the information gathered in this thread, and help us identify the individuals behind this effort (please, no vigilantism). Which site was hacked? What became of Pluto Data, and is Pluto Data themselves responsible?

If your credit card statement shows a phantom charge from PLUTO D NICOSIA, your first step should be to contact your credit card company and dispute the charge. You should then contact each of the credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and inform them of illegal activity on your account.

As an added measure, head to the government's Internet Fraud Complaint Center and file a complaint. Filing a complaint at the Better Business Bureau couldn't hurt, either.