System and Method for Sending Money Via E-Mail Over the Internet

Abstract

A method and system for transferring money from a sender to a receiver utilizing a computer network such as the Internet. The sender visits a web site and identifies, to the server over the Internet, the receiver, an e-mail address of the receiver, an amount of money to be transferred, and a withdraw account from which money is to be transferred. Money is transferred from the withdraw account and deposited into a holding account. The server automatically sends an e-mail to the receiver to inform the receiver that the sender has transferred money and to request the receiver to visit the web site to receive money. The receiver visits the web site of the server in response to the e-mail and identifies a deposit account to which money is to transferred. Money is withdrawn from the holding account and deposited in the deposit account.

1 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A method of transferring money from a sender to a receiver utilizing a computer network including a server, the method comprising the steps of:
 a sender device identifying, to the server over the network, an amount of money to be transferred to the receiver and a withdraw account from which money is to be transferred, the server interfacing with the sender device to exchange security information;   transferring money from the withdraw account;   the server sending an electronic message to a receiver device over the network to inform the receiver that the sender device is transferring money to the receiver and to request the receiver to contact the server to receive the money;   the receiver using the receiver device contacting the server over the network in response to the electronic message and identifying a deposit account to which money is to be transferred, the server interfacing with the receiver device to exchange security information; and   the server transferring money to the deposit account.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , the security information being in the form of a challenge question. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the server interfacing with the sender device to exchange security information is constituted by the server inputting the security information from the sender device. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , the security information being in the form of a challenge question. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the server interfacing with the receiver device to exchange security information is constituted by the server inputting the security information from the receiver device. 
     
     
         61 . The method according to  claim 60  the server interfacing with the receiver device to exchange security information is constituted by:
 the server outputting the challenge question to the receiver device; 
 the server inputting a response to the challenge question from the receiver device; and 
 the server assessing the validity of the challenge question, so as to provide a level of security that the receiver is the intended receiver. 
 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the server interfacing with the receiver device to exchange security information is constituted by the server inputting the security information from the receiver device. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , the security information and being in the form of a challenge question. 
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 56 , the server sending an electronic message to the sender device being performed over the network. 
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 56 ,
 the receiver account constituted by a deposit account; and   the sender account constituted by a withdraw account.   
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 56 , the server receiving the sender identifier and the receiver account identifier from the receiver. 
     
     
         67 . The method according to  claim 56 , the transferring money from the sender account being performed before the transferring money to the receiver account. 
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 56 , the sender account is constituted by a checking account. 
     
     
         69 . The method according to  claim 56 , the sender account is constituted by a credit card account. 
     
     
         70 . The method according to  claim 56 , further comprising the step of the server transmitting information regarding the credit card account to a credit card authorization network for approval. 
     
     
         71 . The method according to  claim 56 , further comprising the step of the server receiving from the receiver device a network address of the receiver device for receiving electronic messages. 
     
     
         72 . The method according to  claim 56 , further comprising the step of sending an electronic message to the receiver device confirming that the amount of money has been transferred to the receiver account after the step of transferring money to the receiver account. 
     
     
         73 . The method according to  claim 56 , further comprising the step of the server receiving from the receiver device a network address of the sender device for receiving electronic messages. 
     
     
         74 . The method according to  claim 56 , further comprising the step of sending an electronic message over the network to the sender device confirming that money has been transferred from the sender account after the step of transferring money from the sender account; and
 wherein the step of transferring money from the sender account includes depositing money into a holding account.   
     
     
         75 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the step of transferring money to the deposit account includes withdrawing money from the holding account. 
     
     
         76 . The method according to  claim 56 , the sender account is constituted by a credit card account; and
 the method further comprising the step of the server transmitting information regarding the credit card account to a credit card authorization network for approval.   
     
     
         77 . The method according to  claim 56 , including performing further processing to transfer the money back to the sender from the receiver. 
     
     
         78 . The method according to  claim 56 , the sender device is a computer. 
     
     
         79 . The method according to  claim 56 , the receiver device is a computer. 
     
     
         80 . A method of transferring money from a sender to a receiver utilizing a computer network including a server, the method comprising the steps of:
 the sender device identifying, to the server over the network, an amount of money to be transferred to the receiver and a withdraw account from which money is to be transferred, the server interfacing with the sender device to exchange security information constituted by inputting the security information from the sender device;   transferring money from the withdraw account of the sender;   the server sending an electronic message to a receiver device of the receiver over the network to inform the receiver that the sender device is transferring money to the receiver and to request the receiver to contact the server to receive the money;   the receiver via the receiver device contacting the server over the network in response to the electronic message and identifying a deposit account to which money is to be transferred, the server interfacing with the receiver device to exchange security information constituted by the server prompting the receiver device for the security information and inputting the security information from the receiver device; and   the server transferring money to the deposit account; and   the security information is constituted by a challenge question.