Systems and methods for verifying identities in transactions

• US 8,386,393 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Michelsen, Michael J., Blair, Paul, Seifert, Dean, Cachey, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, II, Calvin L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Winter, John M
• Application Number:
  US10/977,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,042 Days
• Field of Search: 705 50- 80, 235/381
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions

Abstract

A computerized method of verifying the identity of an attendant operating a money transfer transaction device includes receiving at the money transfer transaction device a user identification and password from the attendant and receiving at the money transfer transaction device additional information from the attendant. The additional information relates to a security feature that limits access to the transaction device. The method also includes using the additional information, the user identification, and the password to evaluate whether to allow the attendant to operate the transaction device to process a transaction.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of obtaining identification information from an individual involved in a money transfer transaction, comprising:

receiving by a transaction processing device transaction-related information, including information relating to the identity of the individual, wherein the individual comprises one of a sender of money to a recipient of money in a wire transfer of the money or the recipient of money in a wire transfer of money;

displaying by the transaction processing device a prompt on the transaction processing device to enter identification information;

receiving by the transaction processing device identification information, wherein the identification information verifies the information relating to the identity of the individual;

storing at a host computer at least a portion of the transaction-related information and at least a portion of the identification information in a transaction record as transaction information;

using by the host computer the information relating to the identity of the individual to identify other transaction records relating to the same sender of money or the recipient of money in a wire transfer of money;

and processing by the host computer the transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, comparing the information relating to the identity of the individual to information obtained from a credit reporting agency.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, comparing the information relating to the identity of the individual to information obtained from an identification information company.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the information relating to the identity of the individual to information in a list provided by law enforcement authorities.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing the transaction comprises aborting the transaction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises a biometric feature of the sender.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction-related information also includes information relating to a receiver in the financial transaction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information is entered by inputting information into the transaction processing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information is entered by inputting information into a peripheral device associated with the transaction processing device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises a security code obtained from an identification tool, and wherein the method further comprises comparing the security code to a verification code generated by the transaction processing device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the transaction information to similar information in other transaction records comprises comparing the transaction information to similar information in a transaction record relating to an aborted transaction.

11. A system for obtaining identification information from an operator of a money transfer transaction processing device, comprising:

a host computer system; and

a transaction processing device that is programmed to;

receive a user identification and password from the operator;

receive additional information from the operator, wherein the additional information relates to a security feature that limits access to the transaction device; and

transmit at least a portion of the information to the host computer system;

wherein the host computer system is programmed to use the additional information, the user identification, and the password to evaluate whether to allow the operator to operate the transaction device to process a transaction, wherein the transaction comprises a wire transfer of money from a sender to a recipient.