Systems and methods for verifying identities

• US 8,468,096 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2010
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Seifert, Dean, Bixler, Matt, Owen, Dave, Petri, Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Holly, John H
• Application Number:
  US12/953,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/44, 705/39, 705/35, 705/40, 705/21, 705/64, 235/379, 235/380, 235/383, 235/454, 726/9, 726/21
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A method for verifying the identity of one party on behalf of another party is provided. The method includes providing a money-transfer system and a communication system that communicates with the money-transfer system; receiving at the money-transfer system from the first party certain verification criteria for confirming the identity of a second party; and storing the verification criteria in the host computer system of the money-transfer system. When an ID is received from the second party at a money-transfer location; the verification criteria is retrieved from the host computer system; and the acceptability of the ID is determined in accordance with the verification criteria. If the identification device is acceptable, identification information is obtained from the identification device; and the identification information is processed to verify the identity of the second party. In other embodiments, a method for pre-verifying the identity of a party and a system for performing the method of the invention are provided.

Claims

1. A method for verifying an identity of a second person on behalf of a first person using a money transfer service provider, the method comprising:

receiving, from the first person, by a money transfer computer system, verification criteria for confirming the identity of the second person, wherein;

the money transfer computer system is operated by the money transfer service provider;

the money transfer service provider is distinct from the first person and the second person;

the first person and the second person are geographically separated; and

the verification criteria specifies;

a type of physical identification document that is acceptable to the first person, wherein;

the second person must physically present an identification document of the type of physical identification document to the money transfer service provider; and

a verification procedure that involves the identification document and must be followed to satisfy the verification criteria; and

transmitting, by the money transfer computer system, the verification criteria to an associate location of the money transfer service provider;

performing, at the associate location of the service provider, the verification procedure specified by the verification criteria using the identification document presented by the second person;

determining, using the money transfer computer system, the identification document presented by the second person satisfies the verification criteria received from the first person; and

notifying, using the money transfer computer system, the first person that the identity of the second person has been verified in accordance with the verification criteria received from the first person.

2. A method for verifying an identity of a second entity on behalf of a first entity, the method comprising:

receiving, from the first entity, by an identity verification computer system, verification criteria for confirming the identity of the second entity, wherein;

the second entity is a person;

the identity verification computer system is operated by a service provider;

the service provider is distinct from the first entity and the second entity; and

the verification criteria specifies;

one or more types of identification documents that are acceptable to the first entity; and

one or more verification procedures involving the one or more types of identification documents that must be followed to satisfy the verification criteria, wherein;

an identification document of the one or more types of identification documents must be physically presented by the second entity to the service provider; and

the identification document identifies only the second entity;

transmitting, by the identity verification computer system, the verification criteria to an associate location of the service provider;

determining, by the identity verification computer system, the identification document presented by the second entity satisfies the verification criteria received from the first entity; and

notifying, by the identity verification computer system, the first entity that the identity of the second entity has been verified in accordance with the verification criteria specified by the first entity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the service provider is a money transfer service provider and the associate location of the service provider is a money transfer location of the money transfer service provider.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the verification criteria further specifies at least one procedure required to be followed to verify the identity of the second entity.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising performing, at the associate location of the service provider, the at least one procedure specified by the first entity.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein performing the at least one procedure comprises capturing an image of the identification document of the second entity.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving, by the service provider, a fee, from the first entity as payment for verifying the identity of the second entity.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising, receiving, by the service provider, a request to verify the identity of the second entity from the first entity, wherein the request to verify the identity of the second entity is received after the identification document of the second entity has been received at the associate location of the service provider.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein notifying the first entity that the identity of the second entity has been verified in accordance with the verification criteria specified by the first entity comprises sending the first entity, by the service provider, a written certification of the second entity'"'"'s identity.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the first entity is selected from the group consisting of:

a bank;

a merchant; and

a person.

11. A system for verifying an identity of a second entity on behalf of a first entity, the system comprising:

a service provider computer system, configured to;

receive, from the first entity, verification criteria for confirming the identity of the second entity, wherein;

the second entity is a person;

the computer system is operated by a service provider;

the service provider is distinct from the first entity and the second entity; and

the verification criteria specifies;

one or more types of identification documents that are acceptable to the first entity, wherein;

the second entity must physically present an identification document of the one or more types of identification documents to the service provider; and

a verification procedure that involves the identification document and must be followed to satisfy the verification criteria;

transmit the verification criteria to an associate location of the service provider;

notify the first entity that the identity of the second entity has been verified in accordance with the verification criteria specified by the first entity; and

a transaction processing device, located at an associate location of the service provider, configured to;

receive an indication of the identification document presented by the second entity; and

determine the identification document presented by the second entity satisfies the verification criteria received from the first entity.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the service provider is a money transfer service provider and the associate location of the service provider is a money transfer location of the money transfer service provider.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the verification criteria further specifies at least one procedure required to be followed to verify the identity of the second entity.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the transaction processing device is further configured to perform the at least one procedure specified by the first entity.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein performing the at least one procedure comprises capturing a biometric sample of the second entity.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein performing the at least one procedure comprises capturing a signature of the second entity.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the service provider computer system is further configured to receive a fee from the first entity as payment for verifying the identity of the second entity.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the service provider computer system is further configured to receive a request to verify the identity of the second entity from the first entity, wherein:

the request to verify the identity of the second entity is received after the indication of the identification document of the second entity has been received by the transaction processing device.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein notifying the first entity that the identity of the second entity has been verified in accordance with the verification criteria specified by the first entity comprises sending the first entity, by the service provider, a written certification of the second entity'"'"'s identity.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the first entity is selected from the group consisting of:

a bank;

a merchant; and

a person.