Secure Item Purchasing And Fraud Avoidance System

Abstract

The invention is a system supporting a payment and inspection service used to securely purchase merchandise on an online sale website. A buyer or seller can select using the payment and inspection service. The buyer pays the payment and inspection service, which holds the payment in an escrow account. The seller ships the item to a store where the payment and inspection service is located. The buyer goes to the store and, while being monitored by an agent or employee of the service, the buyer inspects the merchandise. If the buyer accepts the item, he leaves the store with the item and the service releases the payment from the escrow account to the seller. If the buyer does not want to accept the item (he rejects the item), the item is then repacked and returned to the seller, and the service returns the payment, less cost of shipping the item back to the seller, to the buyer.

1 . A fraud prevention system for securely acquiring a remotely purchased item, said system comprising:
 a computer processor having at least one central processor unit a database memory and at least one input/output communication port for transmitting and receiving messages, said messages including a notification message that the purchased item was shipped by the seller, a notification message that the payment funds related to the purchased item were received at a payment escrow computer account, a notification message that the product is ready for a monitored inspection at an inspection location, and a notification that the purchaser has accepted or rejected the purchased item after the monitored inspection, said computer processor transmitting an instruction message instructing the escrow account to release the payment funds to the buyer or return the payment funds to seller after the inspection,   said payment escrow account coupled to the fraud prevention system, having a processor, database memory and an input/output communication port for transmitting and receiving messages, said messages including the transmission of a notice of receipt of payment for the purchased item, the instruction to the payment escrow account to transfer payment funds to the seller if the buyer accepts the item or to refund the payment funds to the buyer if the buyer rejects the item,   an inspection platform located proximate to said inspection location that supports the purchased item so the buyer can inspect the purchased item while being monitored and observed during a monitored inspection, said monitored inspection permits the buyer to confirm acceptability of the purchased item or reject the purchased item while not being given the opportunity to alter or swap the purchased item.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said inspection platform is located proximate to an employee or agent of an inspection service so said employee or agent can, actively observe and monitor the buyer while the buyer inspects the item. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a camera for monitoring the buyer while the buyer inspects the item. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the buyer pays a fee to use the fraud prevention system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the seller pays a fee to use the fraud prevention system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the option to use the fraud prevention system is selectable by the seller of said item as an option selectable on the sale website. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the option to use the fraud prevention system is selectable by the buyer of said item as an option selectable on the sale website. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the computer processor receives a notification message that an item has been purchased using the fraud prevention system. 
     
     
         9 . A system for preventing fraud when purchasing a remotely-located product item comprising:
 a computer processor server with an input/output communication port coupled to a computer processor and a data base memory, said computer processor processes communications including a message notification regarding shipment of the product item, receipt of the product item at an inspection location, and receipt of payment by an escrow account,   an inspection platform located proximate to said inspection location that supports the product item for a monitored inspection by the buyer, said buyer being able to inspect the purchased item at or near the inspection platform to confirm acceptability of the shipped product item but not being given an opportunity to alter or swap the shipped product item,   said computer processor server receiving a notification message that the product item was accepted or rejected by the buyer and said computer processor issuing an instruction to said escrow account to release payment to the seller if product item was accepted by buyer or return the payment to the buyer if the product item was rejected by buyer.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the purchased item is repackaged at the inspection location and returned to the seller if the buyer rejects the item. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein an agent of the inspection service monitors the buyer while the buyer inspects the item. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein a camera is used for monitoring the buyer while the buyer inspects the item. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the buyer pays a fee for the service. 
     
     
         14 . The system  claim 9  wherein the seller pays a fee for the service. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9  wherein an option selectable on the sale website to use the service selected by the seller. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9  wherein an option selectable on the sale website to use the service selected by the buyer. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the computer processor receives a notification message that an item has been purchased using the fraud prevention system. 
     
     
         18 . A system for preventing fraud when purchasing a product item comprising:
 a computer system having a computer processor, coupled memory and an input/output communication port, said computer system coupled to an escrow bank account, that receives a payment for the purchased product item,   an inspection platform located at the inspection location to support the product item so the buyer can inspect the item at or near the inspection platform during a monitored inspection to determine acceptability of the product item or to reject the product item without allowing the buyer to swap or alter the product item during the monitored inspection,   said escrow bank account system receiving an instruction to release the payment funds to the seller if the buyer accepts the product item or refund the payment to buyer if buyer rejects the product item after the monitored inspection.   
     
     
         19 . A system of  claim 18  wherein the purchased item is repackaged at the inspection location and returned to the seller if the buyer rejects the item. 
     
     
         20 . A system of  claim 18  wherein an agent of the inspection service monitors the buyer while the buyer inspects the item. 
     
     
         21 . A system of  claim 18  wherein a camera monitors the buyer while the buyer inspects the item. 
     
     
         22 . A system of  claim 18  wherein the buyer pays a fee for the service. 
     
     
         23 . A system of  claim 18  wherein the seller pays a fee for the service. 
     
     
         24 . A system of  claim 18 , wherein an option selectable on the sale website to use the service selected by the seller. 
     
     
         25 . A system of  claim 18  wherein an option selectable on the sale website to use the service selected by the buyer. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the computer processor receives a notification message that an item has been purchased using the fraud prevention system.