Method and apparatus for identity theft prevention

Abstract

A system and method issues a credit card or other credit instrument to a user by first obtaining authorization and authentication from the user.

1 . A method for preventing an unauthorized issuance of a credit instrument, the method comprising:
 associating by a first party a means of communication with an identifier of a user;   providing from a second party to the first party the identifier of the user responsive to the second party attempting to have issued the credit instrument to that user;   contacting the user by the second party responsive to the providing step;   authenticating the user responsive to the contact;   receiving from the user an indication of whether the user assents to the issuance of the credit instrument; and   issuing the credit instrument responsive to the authentication and the indication of assent.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the providing step is performed via a third party. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the providing step is performed in a manner that does not reveal an identity of the first and second parties to one another. 
     
     
         4 . A method comprising:
 receiving information regarding an application for the issuance of a payment instrument along with a consumer identifier;   determining, by a computer system, if the consumer identifier matches a stored consumer identifier; and   sending an alert to a consumer associated with the consumer identifier after determining, by the computer system, if the consumer identifier matches the stored consumer identifier.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the payment instrument is a credit card. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the consumer identifier is a social security number. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein sending the alert to the consumer comprises sending the alert to a phone of the consumer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising issuing the payment instrument by an issuer bank if the consumer identifier does not match the stored consumer identifier. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the payment instrument is a first payment instrument, and wherein the information regarding the application is received from a first issuer and the stored consumer identifier is stored in response to enrollment of a second payment instrument of the consumer in an authentication program, wherein the second payment instrument is issued by a second issuer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the computer system is part of the Issuer's Clearinghouse Service. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first and second issuers are not aware of each other's identity as the method is performed. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising receiving a response to the alert, from the consumer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4  wherein sending an alert to the consumer comprises sending an e-mail to the consumer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the e-mail contains an active link which triggers a pop up window requesting that the consumer approve of the application. 
     
     
         15 . A computer system comprising a processor and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, the computer readable medium comprising code, executable by the processor to implement a method comprising:
 receiving information regarding an application for the issuance of a payment instrument along with a consumer identifier;   determining if the consumer identifier matches a stored consumer identifier; and   sending an alert to a consumer associated with the consumer identifier after determining if the consumer identifier matches a stored consumer identifier.   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the payment instrument is a credit card. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the consumer identifier is a social security number. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein sending an alert to the consumer associated with the consumer identifier comprises sending an e-mail to the consumer. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 15  wherein the payment instrument is a first payment instrument, and wherein the information regarding the application is received from a first issuer and the stored consumer identifier is stored in response to enrollment of a second payment instrument of the consumer in an authentication program, wherein the second payment instrument is issued by a second issuer. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 19  wherein the first and second payment instruments are credit cards.