Apparatuses, Methods and Systems for a Trackable Virtual Currencies Platform

• US 20130046684A1
• Filed: 10/18/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Driemeyer, Justin, Ocko, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,660,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services

Abstract

Method for detecting fraud includes receiving a fraud alert. The fraud alert is investigated by analyzing social graph information and other available information of one or more users associated with the fraud alert to determine likelihood of the users being involved in fraud. When it is determined that a fraud was committed based on the analysis, chain of fraudulent transactions related to the fraud are reversed and fraud events data related to the fraud are updated into a fraud event database for subsequent analysis.

Claims

1. A fraud detection method implemented by a processor, the method comprising:

receiving a fraud alert;

investigating the fraud alert by analyzing social graph information and other available information of one or more users associated with the fraud alert to determine likelihood of the users being involved in fraud;

when it is determined that a fraud was committed based on the analysis,

reversing a chain of fraudulent transactions related to the fraud; and

updating fraud events data related to the fraud into a fraud event database for subsequent analysis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fraud alert is initiated by one of the user or an algorithm executing the method.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein analyzing further includes examining information related to the social graph of a user initiating fraud alert to determine if the user submitted a false claim, the examining includes,

determining different types of links between the user initiating the fraud alert and other users in the social graph, each type of link accorded a distinct weight;

and

examining the weights associated with each of the different types of links to determine level of linkage of the user with the other users in the social graph, the type of links and level of linkage between the user and the other users in the social graph used in determining if a false claim was submitted by the user through the fraud alert.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the information related to the social graph of the user is obtained from a social graph table.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the information related to the social graph of the user is obtained from one or more social media networks.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing further includes,

examining social graph information of users associated with the fraud alert according to predetermined rules;

calculating a fraud score corresponding to each predetermined rule for each of the users;

assigning a predetermined weight for each calculated fraud score associated with each of the users based on a weight accorded to the respective predetermined rules;

computing a weighted average of the fraud scores associated with each of the users using the calculated fraud scores for the respective users;

comparing the weighted average of the fraud score associated with each of the users against a predetermined threshold value; and

establishing that a fraud was committed when the weighted average for a particular user exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein reversing a chain of fraudulent transactions related to the fraud further includes,

retrieving information from a transaction table related to the fraudulent transactions, the information identifying one or more transaction entries generated for the fraudulent transactions;

retrieving information from a user table related to the users involved in the fraudulent transactions; and

reversing the one or more transaction entries related to the users involved in the fraudulent transactions upon successful verification that the fraud was committed, the reversing results in restoring virtual currency of a defrauded user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein reversing a chain of fraudulent transactions related to the fraud further includes,

determining amount of virtual currency associated with one or more defrauded users that are involved in the fraudulent transactions, the amount of virtual currency involved in the fraudulent transactions determined using tracked virtual currency, the tracked virtual currency encoded with unique identifier to enable monitoring of progression of the tracked virtual currency through an online game system;

and

restoring the amount of virtual currency involved in the fraudulent transactions to the one or more defrauded users using new virtual currency upon successful verification that the fraud was committed.

9. The method of claim 8, further includes removing the tracked virtual currency from circulation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein updating fraud event database further includes updating the fraud event associated with the fraud alert within the fraud event database to reflect the fraud alert was associated with actual fraud or the fraud alert was a false alarm,

wherein updating fraud event for the actual fraud includes recording information related to the fraud transaction including information related to the users involved in the fraud transaction, in the fraud event database.

11. A system for detecting fraud in an online gaming application, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory and configured to issue processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor issues instructions to;

receive a fraud alert;

investigate the fraud alert by analyzing social graph information and other available information of one or more users associated with the fraud alert to determine likelihood of the users being involved in fraud;

when it is determined that a fraud was committed based on the analysis, the processor issues instructions to,

reverse a chain of fraudulent transactions related to the fraud; and

update fraud events data related to the fraud into a fraud event database for subsequent analysis.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein processing instructions to analyze social graph information is further configured to examine information related to the social graph of a user initiating fraud alert to determine if the user submitted a false claim, the processing instructions to examine is further configured to,

determine different types of links between the user initiating the fraud alert and other users in the social graph, each type of link accorded a distinct weight;

and

examine the weights associated with each of the different types of links to determine level of linkage of the user with the other users in the social graph, the type of links and level of linkage between the user and the other users in the social graph used in determining if a false claim was submitted by the user through the fraud alert.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein processing instructions to analyze social graph information is further configured to,

examine social graph information of users associated with the fraud alert, according to predetermined rules;

calculate a fraud score corresponding to each predetermined rule for each of the users;

assign a predetermined weight for each calculated fraud score associated with each of the users based on a weight accorded to the respective predetermined rules;

compute a weighted average of the fraud scores associated with each of the users using the calculated fraud scores for the respective users;

compare the weighted average of the fraud score associated with each of the users against a predetermined threshold value; and

establish that a fraud was committed when the weighted average for a particular user exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein processing instructions to reverse a chain of fraudulent transactions related to the fraud is further configured to,

retrieve information from a transaction table related to the fraudulent transactions, the information identifying one or more transaction entries generated for the fraudulent transactions;

retrieve information from a user table related to the users involved in the fraudulent transactions; and

reverse the one or more transaction entries related to the users involved in the fraudulent transactions upon successful verification that the fraud was committed, the reversing results in restoring virtual currency of a defrauded user.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein processing instructions to reverse a chain of fraudulent transactions related to the fraud is further configured to,

determine amount of virtual currency associated with one or more defrauded users that are involved in the fraudulent transactions, the amount of virtual currency involved in the fraudulent transactions determined using tracked virtual currency, the tracked virtual currency encoded with unique identifier to enable monitoring of progression of the tracked virtual currency through an online game system;

and

restore the amount of virtual currency involved in the fraudulent transactions to the one or more defrauded users using new virtual currency upon successful verification that the fraud was committed.

16. A processor-readable tangible medium storing processor-issuable instructions for detecting fraud in an online gaming application, the instructions are configured to:

receive a fraud alert;

investigate the fraud alert by analyzing social graph information and other available information of one or more users associated with the fraud alert to determine likelihood of the users being involved in fraud;

when it is determined that a fraud was committed based on the analysis, the instructions are configured to,

reverse a chain of fraudulent transactions related to the fraud; and

update fraud events data related to the fraud into a fraud event database for subsequent analysis.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein instructions to analyze social graph information is further configured to examine information related to the social graph of a user initiating fraud alert to determine if the user submitted a false claim, the processing instructions to examine is further configured to,

determine different types of links between the user initiating the fraud alert and other users in the social graph, each type of link accorded a distinct weight;

and

examine the weights associated with each of the different types of links to determine level of linkage of the user with the other users in the social graph, the type of links and level of linkage between the user and the other users in the social graph used in determining if a false claim was submitted by the user through the fraud alert.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein instructions to analyze social graph information is further configured to,

examine social graph information of users associated with the fraud alert, according to predetermined rules;

calculate a fraud score corresponding to each predetermined rule for each of the users;

assign a predetermined weight for each calculated fraud score associated with each of the users based on a weight accorded to the respective predetermined rules;

compute a weighted average of the fraud scores associated with each of the users using the calculated fraud scores for the respective users;

compare the weighted average of the fraud score associated with each of the users against a predetermined threshold value; and

establish that a fraud was committed when the weighted average for a particular user exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein instructions to reverse a chain of fraudulent transactions related to the fraud is further configured to,

retrieve information from a transaction table related to the fraudulent transactions, the information identifying one or more transaction entries generated for the fraudulent transactions;

retrieve information from a user table related to the users involved in the fraudulent transactions; and

reverse the one or more transaction entries related to the users involved in the fraudulent transactions upon successful verification that the fraud was committed, the reversing results in restoring virtual currency of a defrauded user.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein instructions to reverse a chain of fraudulent transactions related to the fraud is further configured to,

determine amount of virtual currency associated with one or more defrauded users that are involved in the fraudulent transactions, the amount of virtual currency involved in the fraudulent transactions determined using tracked virtual currency, the tracked virtual currency encoded with unique identifier to enable monitoring of progression of the tracked virtual currency through an online game system;

and

restore the amount of virtual currency involved in the fraudulent transactions to the one or more defrauded users using new virtual currency upon successful verification that the fraud was committed.