SYSTEMS AND/OR METHODS FOR FRAUD DETECTION IN AWARD POINT PROGRAMS
First Claim
1. A method of processing transactions, in connection with an electronic registration (ER) system having an ER database of entries for sold items, each said entry including a unique identifier of a corresponding sold item, at least some of said items being sold with an associated promotion administered at least in part by a promotional program system, the method comprising:
- querying the ER database to locate a matching entry when an item is presented for return or refund at a location, using a processor of the ER system;
determining whether a promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund has been taken advantage of, in response to the item being presented for return or refund at the location, using the processor of the ER system;
sending a first message to the location authorizing the return or refund subject to applicable return/refund policies determined in connection with the ER database, when the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund is not yet eligible for redemption;
sending a second message to the location authorizing the return or refund subject to applicable return/refund policies determined in connection with the ER database, and preventing the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund from being taken advantage of, provided that the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund is eligible for redemption; and
sending a third message to the location denying the return or refund when the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund has already been taken advantage of.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Certain exemplary embodiments described herein relate to the field of electronic registration (ER) of purchased items and, more particularly, to improved electronic registration techniques that provide validation and/or verification services for an award points program and/or products having associated award points. Certain exemplary embodiments provide electronic award points management techniques that authenticate item purchases, determine eligibility for inclusion in a manufacturer'"'"'s or a retailer'"'"'s award program, help identify and detect potential fraudulent transactions involving award points and/or associated products, etc. Certain exemplary embodiments may allow point information to be printed directly on a case where it is continually visible, which may, in turn, help increase enrollment by increasing visibility of the program, reducing the likelihood of insert cards being lost, etc., while at the same time reducing costs for program implementation on the part of manufacturers, retailers, etc.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of processing transactions, in connection with an electronic registration (ER) system having an ER database of entries for sold items, each said entry including a unique identifier of a corresponding sold item, at least some of said items being sold with an associated promotion administered at least in part by a promotional program system, the method comprising:
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querying the ER database to locate a matching entry when an item is presented for return or refund at a location, using a processor of the ER system; determining whether a promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund has been taken advantage of, in response to the item being presented for return or refund at the location, using the processor of the ER system; sending a first message to the location authorizing the return or refund subject to applicable return/refund policies determined in connection with the ER database, when the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund is not yet eligible for redemption; sending a second message to the location authorizing the return or refund subject to applicable return/refund policies determined in connection with the ER database, and preventing the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund from being taken advantage of, provided that the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund is eligible for redemption; and sending a third message to the location denying the return or refund when the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund has already been taken advantage of. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of processing transactions in connection with an electronic registration (ER) system having an ER database of entries for sold items, each said entry including item information including at least a unique identifier of a corresponding sold item, and at least some of said sold items being sold with an associated promotion administered at least in part by a promotional program system, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a party, information for an item being registered with the promotional program system, the item having a promotion associated therewith; determining, in cooperation with a processor of the ER system, whether an entry for the item being registered with the promotional program system already exists in the ER database; in response to a determination that the ER database does not already include information for the item being registered, updating the ER database in cooperation with the processor of the ER system so as to include an entry for the item being registered and authorizing the promotional program system to award value associated with the item to the party registering the item; and in response to a determination that the ER database already includes information for the item being registered, examining previously entered item information for the product and item information entered by the party attempting to register the product, in order to identify a suspected fraudster. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An electronic registration (ER) system, comprising:
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an ER database of entries for sold items, each said entry including a unique identifier of a corresponding sold item, at least some of said items being sold with an associated promotion administered at least in part by a promotional program system; and a processor configured to execute instructions to at least; query the ER database to locate a matching entry when an item is presented for return or refund at a location; determine whether a promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund has been taken advantage of, in response to the item being presented for return or refund at the location; send a first message to the location authorizing the return or refund subject to applicable return/refund policies determined in connection with the ER database, when the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund is not yet eligible for redemption; send a second message to the location authorizing the return or refund subject to applicable return/refund policies determined in connection with the ER database, and prevent the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund from being taken advantage of, provided that the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund is eligible for redemption; and send a third message to the location denying the return or refund when the promotion associated with the item presented for return or refund has already been taken advantage of - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An electronic registration (ER) system, comprising:
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an ER database of entries for sold items, each said entry including item information including at least a unique identifier of a corresponding sold item, and at least some of said sold items being sold with an associated promotion administered at least in part by a promotional program system; an interface configured to receive, from a party, information for an item being registered with the promotional program system, the item having a promotion associated therewith; at least one processor configured to execute instructions to at least; determine whether an entry for the item being registered with the promotional program system already exists in the ER database; in response to a determination that the ER database does not already include information for the item being registered, update the ER database to include an entry for the item being registered and authorize the promotional program system to award value associated with the item to the party registering the item; and in response to a determination that the ER database already includes information for the item being registered, examine previously entered item information for the product and item information entered by the party attempting to register the product, in order to identify a suspected fraudster, wherein the ER database includes entries for items from a plurality of manufacturers operating a plurality of rewards programs. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification