Early detection and monitoring of online fraud
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a relationship between a fraud protection provider and a customer, a system for combating online fraud, the system comprising:
- a monitoring center for monitoring a suspicious email activity, the monitoring center comprising;
a first computer, the first computer comprising a first processor and instructions executable by the first processor to allow an analysis of an investigation of a uniform resource locator;
a first telecommunication link configured to provide communication between a technician and the customer, such that the technician can notify the customer of a result of the investigation of a uniform resource locator and the customer can provide instructions for responding to a fraudulent attempt to collect personal information; and
a second telecommunication link configured to provide data communication between the monitoring center and at least one additional computer; and
a second computer in communication with the monitoring center via the second telecommunication link, the second computer comprising a second processor and instructions executable by the second processor to;
access a data source comprising data about a plurality of domain name registrations;
acquire from the data source the data about a new domain name registration;
evaluate the data to determine whether a suspicious domain name has been registered; and
monitor a domain associated with the suspicious domain name for activity.
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Abstract
Various embodiments of the invention provide solutions (including inter alia, systems, methods and software) for dealing with online fraud. In particular, various embodiments of the invention can provide early warning of an online fraud, for instance by finding suspicious domains and/or monitoring those domains for activity. If a suspicious domain shows activity (for example, if a web site associated with the domain becomes active), one or more actions may be taken with respect to the domain.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. In a relationship between a fraud protection provider and a customer, a system for combating online fraud, the system comprising:
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a monitoring center for monitoring a suspicious email activity, the monitoring center comprising;
a first computer, the first computer comprising a first processor and instructions executable by the first processor to allow an analysis of an investigation of a uniform resource locator;
a first telecommunication link configured to provide communication between a technician and the customer, such that the technician can notify the customer of a result of the investigation of a uniform resource locator and the customer can provide instructions for responding to a fraudulent attempt to collect personal information; and
a second telecommunication link configured to provide data communication between the monitoring center and at least one additional computer; and
a second computer in communication with the monitoring center via the second telecommunication link, the second computer comprising a second processor and instructions executable by the second processor to;
access a data source comprising data about a plurality of domain name registrations;
acquire from the data source the data about a new domain name registration;
evaluate the data to determine whether a suspicious domain name has been registered; and
monitor a domain associated with the suspicious domain name for activity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of preventing online fraud, the method comprising:
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finding a new or modified domain registration in a domain registration zone file, wherein the new or modified domain registration is similar to a customer'"'"'s brand name;
determining that the new or modified domain registration is not owned by the customer;
a computer periodically monitoring a domain associated with the domain registration to determine whether the domain has become active; and
taking an action if domain becomes active. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of preventing online fraud, the method comprising:
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a computer automatically monitoring a domain registration zone file;
the computer ascertaining a change in a domain registration record incorporated in the domain registration zone file;
the computer monitoring a domain associated with the domain registration record to determine the existence of a web site associated with the domain;
periodically saving on a storage medium a representation of the web site associated with the domain to create a plurality of representations of the web site;
comparing one of the plurality of the representations with at least one other of the plurality of representations; and
taking an action if the comparison reveals that the web site has been modified. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer system for preventing online fraud, the computer system comprising a processor and instructions executable by the processor to:
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find a new or modified domain registration in a domain registration zone file, wherein the new or modified domain registration is similar to a customer'"'"'s brand name;
determine that the new or modified domain registration is not owned by the customer;
periodically monitor a domain associated with the domain registration to determine whether the domain has become active; and
take an action if domain becomes active.
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31. A computer system for preventing online fraud, the system comprising a processor, a storage medium and instructions executable by the processor to:
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monitor a domain registration zone file;
ascertain a change in a domain registration incorporated in the domain registration zone file;
monitor a domain associated with the domain registration to determine the existence of a web site associated with the domain;
periodically save on the storage medium a representation of the web site associated with the domain to create a plurality of representations of the web site;
compare one of the plurality of the representations with at least one other of the plurality of representations; and
take an action if the comparison reveals that the web site has been modified.
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32. A software program for preventing online fraud, the software program being embodied on a computer readable medium and comprising instructions executable by a computer to:
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find a new or modified domain registration in a domain registration zone file, wherein the new or modified domain registration is similar to a customer'"'"'s brand name;
determine that the new or modified domain registration is not owned by the customer;
periodically monitor a domain associated with the domain registration to determine whether the domain has become active; and
take an action if domain becomes active.
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33. A software program for preventing online fraud, the software program being embodied on a computer readable medium and comprising instructions executable by a computer to:
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monitor a domain registration zone file;
ascertain a change in a domain registration incorporated in the domain registration zone file;
monitor a domain associated with the domain registration to determine the existence of a web site associated with the domain;
periodically save on the storage medium a representation of the web site associated with the domain to create a plurality of representations of the web site;
compare one of the plurality of the representations with at least one other of the plurality of representations; and
take an action if the comparison reveals that the web site has been modified.
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34. A system, comprising:
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means for finding a new or modified domain registration in a domain registration zone file, wherein the new or modified domain registration is similar to a customer'"'"'s brand name;
means for determining that the new or modified domain registration is not owned by the customer;
means for periodically monitoring a domain associated with the domain registration to determine whether the domain has become active; and
means for taking an action if domain becomes active.
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35. A system, comprising:
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means for monitoring a domain registration zone file;
means for ascertaining a change in a domain registration incorporated in the domain registration zone file;
means for monitoring a domain associated with the domain registration to determine the existence of a web site associated with the domain;
means for periodically saving a representation of the web site associated with the domain to create a plurality of representations of the web site;
means for comparing one of the plurality of the representations with at least one other of the plurality of representations; and
means for taking an action if the comparison reveals that the web site has been modified.
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Specification