Do not trust the fake "Payment Via ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped" emails

What kind of email is "Payment Via ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped"?

After inspecting the "Payment Via ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped" email, we determined that it is spam. This fake letter is presented as a missive from the "Executive Office of the President United States American" (mistyped the same in the original) and even the 46th president of the USA – Joe Biden himself.

The email claims that the recipient will be sent an ATM card with over thirty million USD on it – as part of a compensation fund.

It must be emphasized that all these claims are false, and they are not associated with any real individuals or entities. This phishing email aims to extract sensitive information from recipients and potentially trick them into sending money to scammers.

"Payment Via ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped" email scam overview

The spam email with the subject "Your Payment Via ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped To Your House Address" begins by stating that it is a letter from the US president's "Executive Office". Furthermore, it is supposedly signed off by the 46th and current president of the USA – Joe Biden.

The scam email states that following an investigation involving multiple agencies, it was discovered that the recipient has failed to receive their "Outstanding Compensation Payments" for years. The bogus payments are now worth 36.5 million USD. Allegedly, this sum will be delivered in the form of an ATM Visa card using the DHL courier service.

Additionally, the letter claims that due to an error in their address, the recipient was not sent it sooner. Therefore, they are requested to reconfirm the following information – name, age, occupation, home address, and telephone number.

The spam email warns the recipient against contacting anyone else regarding this exorbitant payout. This statement is specifically intended to keep potential victims from conferring about the email with others and getting confirmation that it is a scam. The letter then doubles down and stresses that it is neither spam nor a scam. It is both, and by trusting this email – users can experience a variety of serious issues.

Scammers can monetize personally identifiable information by selling it to third-parties or otherwise abusing it for profit. What is more, spam mail that promises large amounts of money often requests recipients to make (in comparison) small payments.

Cyber criminals prefer to handle funds using difficult-to-trace methods – thus ensuring that they could not be persecuted and that victims would be unable to retrieve their money. Common techniques include using cryptocurrency, pre-paid vouchers, gift cards, or cash hidden in innocent-looking packages and shipped.

Alternatively, the victims can be asked to pay using a dubious payment gateway that operates as a phishing website and records the information entered into it. In these cases, scammers may obtain victims' financial information (e.g., online bank log-in credentials, banking account details, credit card numbers, etc.) and then use it to make fraudulent transactions and/or online purchases.

To summarize, the threats posed by spam mail like "Payment Via ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped" include severe privacy issues, significant financial losses, and even identity theft.

If you have disclosed personally-identifiable or finance-related data to scammers – immediately contact the appropriate authorities. And if you believe that your account credentials have been exposed – change the passwords of all potentially compromised accounts and inform their official support without delay.

Phishing spam campaign examples

"Webmail Password Expired", "Trunk Box Delivery", "Password Expiry Notification", "Junk Filter", and "DHL - Shipment Designated" are merely some examples of phishing emails we have inspected recently.

This mail can target a wide variety of information, most commonly – personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and account log-in credentials. In addition to various scams, these emails are used to distribute trojans, ransomware, and other malware.

These letters can be variously disguised, including as messages from real people and legitimate companies, corporations, service providers, institutions, authorities, and other entities.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Spam campaigns proliferate malware by distributing malicious files as attachments or download links. These files can be documents (e.g., Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, PDF, etc.), executables (e.g., .exe, .run, etc.), archives (e.g., ZIP, RAR, etc.), JavaScript, and so forth.

When a virulent file is executed, run, or otherwise opened – the infection chain is triggered. For example, Microsoft Office documents infect systems by executing malicious macro commands, while infectious OneNote files require users to click embedded files/links.

How to avoid installation of malware?

We strongly advise treating incoming emails and other messages with caution. The attachments and links present in suspicious/irrelevant mail must not be opened, as they can be infectious. It is essential to use Microsoft Office versions released after 2010 since they have the "Protected View" mode that prevents automatic macro execution.

However, it must be mentioned that malware is not spread exclusively via spam mail. Therefore, we advise downloading only from official and verified channels. Additionally, all programs must be activated and updated using legitimate functions/tools, as illegal activation tools ("cracks") and third-party updaters can contain malware.

Another recommendation is to be vigilant when browsing since fake and malicious online content usually appears ordinary and harmless.

We must emphasize the importance of having a reputable anti-virus installed and kept up-to-date. Security software must be used to run regular system scans and to remove threats and issues. If you've already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Payment Via ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped" spam email letter:

Subject: Your Payment Via ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped To Your House Address:

Executive Office of the President United States American.
Office Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500, United States,
Payment Value: $36,500.000.00 USD
RE/NO: 002-US/0047/2023
*************24 HRS SERVICE ***************

Your Payment Via ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped To Your House Address:

Dear Beneficiary,

This is to inform you officially that after our investigations with
the help of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security
Office, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other Security Agencies
in the Country for the year 2023, we discovered that you have not
receive your Outstanding Compensation Payments valued US$36.5 Million
only, I Just received a call from Mr. JERRY MEYER, the Director Of DHL
Express that your Outstanding compensation fund worth US$36.5 Million
Dollars which I sent to you from U.S President Office has been
returned back due to wrong address provided, I advise you to reconfirm
your name and correct house address, Phone number, Occupation and Age
to enable us resend the compensation fund to you immediately. You will
receive your Outstanding payments via a ATM VISA CARD PAYMENTS not a
WIRE TRANSFERS

 

As soon as the above mentioned details are received, your ATM Visa
Card worth US$36.5 Million will be delivered to your house address
without any further delay,I am very sorry for the delay you have gone
through in the past years. Thanks for adhering to this instruction and
once again accept my congratulations in advance.

We do await your response, so we can move on with this transaction and
make sure your funds gets to you.

NOTE: You are not to contact any office(s) or person(s) for mistake in
the release of your funds to you apart from the information stated
above.

Finally, I want you to note that your funds is save with us, be inform
that this mail is not a spam or scam message, the US Government can
release your fund today if we received reply from you, base that I
have included my name Mr. Joe Biden and my SSN: 768 67 6797
for you to know that I am for real and not a scam if you need to
verify me, so stop dealing with any body if you have some imposters
you are dealing with and focus on getting your fund here from
Executive Office of the President United States American,

 

We wait for your prompt response on this email.

 

Thanks,

Signed:
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Joe Biden.
President of the United States Of America.

Another example of an email from "Payment Via ATM Visa Card Will Be Shipped" spam campaign:

Text presented within:

Dear,

I am Mr. Pascal Celerier, Chief Operating officer of Le Credit Lyonnais Bank (LCL Bankue) in Lyon, France.

I am pleased to contact you regarding a donation of 9,900,000.00 EUR in your name with Le Credit Lyonnais Bank (LCL) France.

The funds were donated to you by Ms. Sophia Alexander from the United States of America for charity works in your country. The charitable activities include supporting elderly homes and paying hospital bills for the poor.

The bank has deposited the funds into a Visa card issued in your name. Ms. Sophia Alexander has instructed my bank to issue a Visa card in your name, and we have transferred €9,900,000.00 to this card. This way, we avoid requesting your bank account or personal information.

Please note that Ms. Sophia Alexander is an American philanthropist dedicated to supporting organizations and schools. In the meantime, you are entitled to 10% of the funds for your services. This card will be sent to your address via DHL and you will receive it within 3 days. If you do not want a Visa card, please provide us with your bank details so we can transfer the funds to your bank account immediately.

You can withdraw money from ATMs and pay online with your Visa card.

Once I receive your response, I can provide you with further information and send you a copy of the card.

Sincerely,
Pascal Celerier,
Chief Operating Officer
Le Credit Lyonnais Bank (LCL) France
+33605633628

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Types of malicious emails:

If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file from a suspicious email, run a full system scan with Combo Cleaner. If you only received the email and didn't engage with it, you don't need to scan anything - just identify the scam and delete it. The full procedure below covers both situations and what to do if you already clicked, replied, or sent money.

Credential theft Phishing emails

Fake login pages disguised as PayPal, Microsoft, Apple, banks, or social networks. The email pushes a link to a near-perfect copy of the real login screen. The moment you type your username and password, the attacker has them.

Common subject lines

• "Action required: confirm your account"
• "Your password expires today"
• "Unusual sign-in attempt detected"
• "Verify your billing information"

Malware delivery Emails with malicious attachments

Trojans hidden inside fake invoices, faxes, shipping confirmations, or Office documents. Opening the attachment runs the payload and infects the system - often with an info-stealer or remote-access trojan.

Common subject lines

• "Invoice INV-2026-XXXX attached"
• "Fax received - 3 pages"
• "Your shipping document is ready"
• "Voicemail from +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX"

Extortion Sextortion emails

Fake claims of webcam recordings demanding cryptocurrency. Almost always a bluff: the attacker pulls a real password from an old data breach to make the threat look credible, then claims to have video of you. They have no recording and no access.

Common subject lines

• "I know your password is XXXX"
• "Your account has been hacked"
• "I have recorded you - 48 hours to pay"
• "You have been compromised"

Callback fraud Refund & callback scams

"Your subscription was renewed for $499 - call to cancel." Norton, McAfee, Geek Squad, PayPal, and Wells Fargo variants are all common. There's no real subscription. The phone number in the email connects directly to the scammer, who walks you through "refunding" yourself - which is actually them stealing money from your bank.

Common subject lines

• "Norton subscription auto-renewed - $499.99"
• "McAfee Total Protection invoice"
• "Geek Squad order confirmation"
• "Your PayPal payment is being processed"

Credential theft Account suspension & verification scams

"Your account will be deleted in 24 hours - verify now." The artificial deadline is the whole point: it pressures you to click before checking details. The "verify" link goes to a phishing page styled to look like the real provider.

Common subject lines

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Suspicious activity detected - verify now"
• "Final warning: account closure"
• "Action required to keep your account active"

Mixed payload Delivery & package scams

Fake DHL, USPS, UPS, or FedEx tracking, customs fees, or "package undeliverable" notices. Targets anyone expecting a parcel - the timing alone catches many people. The link hides either phishing (asking for card details to "release" the package) or a malware download.

Common subject lines

• "Your DHL package is held at customs"
• "USPS - delivery attempt failed"
• "FedEx tracking update - action required"
• "Pay $2.99 redelivery fee to release your parcel"

Remote access Tech support scams

Fake Microsoft, Apple, or "Windows Defender" security alerts pushing a phone number. Real Microsoft and Apple never email a phone number to call. The number connects you to a scammer who asks for remote access to "fix" the imaginary problem and then demands payment.

Common subject lines

• "Microsoft Defender expired - renew now"
• "Apple ID security alert"
• "Critical: virus detected on your PC"
• "Windows license expired - call now"

Wire fraud Advance-fee scams

Inheritance, lottery wins, romance, or business deals that ask for a small fee to release a much larger sum. The classic "Nigerian prince" 419 family of frauds. Once you pay the first fee, more fees appear (taxes, lawyer, transfer charges) until you stop paying. The promised money never exists.

Common subject lines

• "Inheritance from a relative you didn't know about"
• "You won the international lottery"
• "URGENT - business proposal worth $XX million"
• "Compensation fund release for fraud victims"

Wire fraud Business email compromise (BEC)

CEO impersonation asking employees to wire money or buy gift cards, or fake supplier invoices with newly "updated" bank details for payment redirection. The email often spoofs a real internal executive's display name and uses an external lookalike domain.

Common subject lines

• "Quick task - need you to buy gift cards"
• "Updated banking details for invoice payment"
• "Wire transfer request - urgent"
• "Are you available?" (CEO impersonation opener)

How to spot a malicious email?

Phase 1~ 2 min

Spot - identify the red flags

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1

Check the sender's actual address, not the display name

30 sec

The display name (the human-readable part) is trivial to fake. Always check the full address that comes after it. Common red flags:

• Domain mismatch - service@paypa1.com, support@micros0ft-help.com, look-alike domains using digits or extra hyphens
• Free-email impersonation - any "official" message from a bank, courier, or platform sent from a @gmail.com, @outlook.com, or @yahoo.com address
• Reply-To mismatch - the From address looks legitimate but Reply-To points somewhere completely different

Why this matters

Real companies own their domains and send mail from them. A "DHL" message from a Gmail address is never legitimate, regardless of how convincing the body looks.

2

Watch for urgency, threats, and generic greetings

30 sec

Scams almost always rush you. The point is to make you act before you think. Treat any of the following as a strong signal:

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Final notice" / "Immediate action required"
• "Dear Customer" or "Dear User" instead of your real name
• Threats of fines, account closure, legal action, or arrest
• Promises of refunds, prizes, or money you didn't earn
• Spelling and grammar mistakes in messages claiming to come from a major brand

3

Hover over every link before clicking

30 sec

On a desktop, hover the mouse over the link without clicking. The real destination shows in the bottom-left status bar of your browser or email client. On a phone, long-press the link to preview the URL.

• Real Microsoft, PayPal, or bank links go to those exact domains, not redirects through unrelated sites
• Shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl, t.co) hide the real destination - never click them in unsolicited mail
• The visible link text and the actual URL must match - mismatches are the single biggest phishing red flag

Pro tip

When in doubt, don't click the link. Open a new browser tab and type the company's address yourself, then log in normally. If there really is an issue with your account, you'll see it there.

4

Treat unexpected attachments as hostile

30 sec

If you didn't ask for the file, don't open it - even if it appears to come from someone you know. Categories that should never be opened from email without verification through another channel:

• .exe, .scr, .iso, .img, .vbs, .bat - executables, never legitimate attachments
• .docx, .xlsx, .pptx with "Enable macros" prompts - the macros run the malware
• .pdf with "Click here to view" buttons - usually a phishing redirect, not a real document
• .zip, .rar, .7z archives, especially password-protected ones - the password defeats the email scanner

Phase 2~ 2 min

Report and delete - if you haven't engaged

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If you only received the email and didn't reply, click, or open anything, the steps below are all you need. Your computer is not infected.

5

Don't reply, don't click "unsubscribe"

30 sec

Replying confirms your address is real and monitored, which gets you added to higher-value scam lists. The "unsubscribe" link in a scam message is rarely a real opt-out - it usually leads to a phishing page or downloads a tracking pixel.

Instead, mark the message as junk or phishing inside your email client (this trains the spam filter), then block the sender.

6

Report the scam to your email provider and authorities

1 min

Inside your email client:

• Gmail: open the message → ⋮ menu → Report phishing
• Outlook / Outlook.com: ⋯ menu → Report → Report phishing
• Apple Mail / iCloud: Move to Junk, then forward to reportphishing@apple.com

Forward or report to authorities:

• International: forward to reportphishing@apwg.org
• United States: ic3.gov (FBI)
• United Kingdom: forward phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk (NCSC SERS); for financial loss report at reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
• Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
• Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
• EU: your national CERT - find yours via the ENISA CSIRT map

After reporting, delete the email and empty the Trash folder so you don't accidentally open it later.

Phase 3~ 10–60 min

Recover - if you already engaged with the scam

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Pick the step below that matches what you did. If multiple apply, work through them in the order they appear - the steps are arranged from lowest to highest risk.

7

You only clicked a link (didn't enter anything or download anything)

Scenario: clicked link only10 min

Close the page right away. Don't enter any information, even if the page looks legitimate.

• Clear your browser cache and cookies for the last hour - Chrome/Edge: Ctrl+Shift+Del → Last hour → check Cookies and Cached files
• Run a quick scan with Combo Cleaner in case the page tried to drop a file silently (drive-by download)
• Update your browser to the latest version - most drive-by exploits target outdated browsers
• Watch for new browser pop-ups, redirects, or unfamiliar notifications over the next few days

Why this matters

Modern browsers block most drive-by attacks, but a single click on a phishing page can still be enough on an outdated browser or unpatched plugin. A quick scan catches anything that landed silently.

8

You opened an attachment or downloaded a file - run a full malware scan

Scenario: opened attachment⚠ Highest risk60–90 min

Opening an attachment is the most common path to actual infection. Treat the system as compromised until the scans below come back clean. Work through these sub-steps in order:

8.1Disconnect from the network

Unplug Ethernet and turn off Wi-Fi. If the attachment was an info-stealer or remote-access trojan, this stops it from sending data out or receiving commands. Keep the network off until you've booted into Safe Mode (next step) - you'll reconnect there briefly to download the scanners.

8.2Boot into Safe Mode with Networking, then download the scanners

Windows 11: Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup → Restart now → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press 5 or F5.

Windows 10: hold Shift, click Power → Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press F5.

Once Safe Mode has loaded, turn Wi-Fi back on and download Combo Cleaner (used in 8.4) and Microsoft Safety Scanner (used in 8.5). Safe Mode loads only minimal drivers, so most malware can't auto-run while you're getting the tools. Save both installers to your Desktop.

8.3Run Microsoft Defender Offline

Reboot to normal Windows. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts into a stripped-down environment and scans the disk before Windows fully loads - this is what catches rootkits and bootkits.

Recommended antivirus

Combo Cleaner

VB100 certified. Includes anti-trojan, registry/persistence scanning, and anti-spyware in one pass. The 7-day free trial is available.

Download Combo Cleaner

8.4Run a full Combo Cleaner scan

Install Combo Cleaner and run a full system scan (not the quick scan). Let it complete fully, review what it found, and apply the recommended actions. Combo Cleaner will quarantine known trojans and remove their persistence in the registry.

8.5Run Microsoft Safety Scanner as a second-opinion scan

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT.exe). The binary expires every 10 days, which means every download has the latest signatures. Run a full scan after Combo Cleaner to catch anything one engine alone might miss.

8.6Reset browsers and clear notification permissions

Many email-borne trojans drop adware that hijacks browsers. Reset each browser you use:

Chrome: chrome://settings/reset → Restore settings to their original defaults. Then chrome://settings/content/notifications - remove unfamiliar sites.

Edge: edge://settings/reset. Then edge://settings/content/notifications.

Firefox: about:support → Refresh Firefox.

8.7Re-enable Defender, Tamper Protection, and update everything

Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings and confirm Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Tamper Protection are all on. Then run Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates and update browsers and applications.

Important

If the scans keep finding new threats on each run, or files reappear after deletion, you may have a deeper compromise that needs a clean Windows reinstall. See pcrisk's full manual malware removal guide for the extended procedure (Process Explorer, Autoruns, hosts file inspection).

9

You entered credentials on a fake login page

Scenario: shared password⚠ Act fast20 min

Assume the attacker has your password and is using it right now. Speed matters.

1. Change the password from a different, known-clean device (your phone is fine if it's not infected). Don't reuse the old password anywhere else.
2. Enable two-factor authentication if you haven't already. Prefer an authenticator app or hardware key over SMS.
3. Sign out of all sessions - most platforms have a "sign out everywhere" option in security settings, which kicks the attacker out.
4. Review recent activity - look for unfamiliar logins, new devices, forwarding rules, or app permissions. Remove anything you don't recognize.
5. Check your other accounts - if you reused that password anywhere else, change it there too. Check your exposure at haveibeenpwned.com.
6. Update security questions - the attacker may have seen the answers in your account profile.

Why email comes first

If you only have time to change one password, change your primary email password - it's the recovery hub for every other account. An attacker who controls your email can reset everything else.

10

You sent money or shared bank, card, or ID details

Scenario: financial loss⚠ Contact bank now30 min

Time is the single biggest factor in recovering money. Banks can sometimes recall a wire or reverse a card transaction within the first few hours.

1. Call your bank or card issuer immediately. Use the number on the back of the card, not any number from the scam email. Ask them to freeze the card, reverse the transaction if possible, and flag the account for fraud monitoring.
2. If you sent a wire transfer or used a money-transfer service (Western Union, MoneyGram, Zelle, Wise), call them directly and request a recall. Some can be reversed within minutes if reported fast.
3. If you sent cryptocurrency or gift cards, recovery is unlikely - but report it anyway, since law enforcement tracks these patterns.
4. File a police report. You'll need the report number for any insurance, bank, or credit-bureau claim. Save the report number.
5. File with the right authority for your country:
   • US: ic3.gov + reportfraud.ftc.gov
   • UK: reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
   • Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
   • Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
   • EU: your national CERT or police cybercrime unit
6. Set fraud alerts on all major credit bureaus if you shared any ID details. US: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion. UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion (Cifas Protective Registration is a stronger option).
7. Save all evidence - the original email (with full headers), screenshots of the fake site, transaction records, any phone numbers or chat logs.

Phase 4~ 15 min + 30 days

Verify & monitor

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11

Final scan and startup-app check

15 min

Reconnect to the network and run one final full scan with Combo Cleaner, followed by a Windows Defender quick scan. Then open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and switch to Startup apps - disable anything unfamiliar.

Make sure Windows, browsers, and any applications you use are fully up to date. The infection vector that worked on you once usually involves outdated software.

12

Monitor accounts and credit for 30 days

5 min/day · 30 days

Most fraud follow-ups land in the first month. Until that window closes, keep watching:

• Bank and card statements - daily for the first week, then weekly
• Email - watch for password-reset confirmations or login alerts you didn't trigger
• Credit report - US: free at annualcreditreport.com; UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion all have free tiers
• Breach alerts - sign up at haveibeenpwned.com to be notified when your email appears in new leaks

If anything new appears in any of those, treat it as a continuing compromise: change passwords again, contact the bank again, and update the police report.

Important: If you didn't click anything, didn't reply, and didn't open any attachment, your computer is not infected - just delete the email and move on. If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file, run an automated scan with Combo Cleaner and Windows Defender and stop there. That path catches the vast majority of email-borne malware without the risk of breaking Windows by deleting the wrong file.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

Spam emails are not personal. They are distributed in mass-scale operations – hence, thousands of users receive identical messages.

I have provided my personal information when tricked by this spam email, what should I do?

If you have disclosed your log-in credentials – immediately change the passwords of all potentially exposed accounts and inform their official support. And if you've provided other private data (e.g., ID card details, credit card numbers, etc.) – contact the appropriate authorities without delay.

I have read a spam email but didn't open the attachment, is my computer infected?

No, merely opening an email will not initiate any system infection chains. Devices are infected when malicious attachments or links are opened/clicked.

I have downloaded and opened a file attached to a spam email, is my computer infected?

If the file was an executable (.exe, .run, etc.) – most likely, yes – your device was infected. However, you might have avoided it if it was a document (.doc, .xls, .pdf, .one, etc.). These formats may need additional user interaction (e.g., enabling macro commands, clicking on embedded content, etc.) to start downloading/installing malware.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?

Yes, Combo Cleaner is designed to detect and remove threats. It is capable of eliminating practically all known malware infections. Keep in mind that running a complete system scan is essential – since sophisticated malicious software usually hides deep within systems.