Method and system for detecting fraud

Abstract

Techniques are presented for detecting fraud while facilitating an online transaction. Sale information from a seller and payment information from a buyer are received and analyzed for fraud. If no fraud is detected, the transaction proceeds and payment from the buyer is facilitated. If fraud is detected, the transaction is terminated and a fraud investigator is notified.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 facilitating, via a server, an online transaction between a buyer, a seller, and a financial institution; and   querying, via the server, one or more external services with payment information for the transaction to determine whether fraud exists with one of: the buyer and the seller.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising, notifying, via the server, a fraud investigator when fraud is determined to be present. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein facilitating further includes acting as an intermediary between the buyer and seller with the financial institution in response to agreement by the buyer and seller. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein facilitating further includes acting as an intermediary between the buyer and seller with the financial institution in response to the buyer activating an online advertisement that engages the seller. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein querying further includes applying velocity rules to the transaction before querying the one or more external services. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying further includes defining the velocity rules based on a threshold for excessive activity between one or more of: the buyer and the seller. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein querying further includes applying suspect data rules to the transaction before querying the one or more external services. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein applying further includes defining the suspect data rules based on verification of transaction details for the buyer and the seller. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 monitoring, via a server, a transaction; and   terminating the transaction when an account of a buyer to the transaction is identified has having been accessed by a seller to the transaction more than a predetermined amount of times within a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein monitoring further includes acting as an intermediary to the transaction on behalf of the buyer and the seller. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein acting further includes interfacing with one or more financial institutions for the buyer and the seller while acting as the intermediary. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein interfacing further includes facilitating payment between the buyer and seller via the one or more financial institutions when fraud is not detected. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein terminating further includes applying suspect data rules associated with transaction details for the transaction to also determine when fraud is present. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein terminating further includes enlisting an external service to assist in determining when fraud is present based on transaction details for the transaction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein terminating further includes notifying a fraud investigator when the transaction is terminated. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein notifying further includes reinstating the transaction based on action of the fraud investigator. 
     
     
         18 . A system, comprising:
 a server having a payment facilitator module;   wherein the payment facilitator module is configured to monitor an online transaction between a buyer and a seller and act as an intermediary for payment of the online transaction with one or more financial institutions, and wherein the payment facilitator is configured to detect fraud when present with the online transaction.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the payment facilitator is configured to enlist one or more external service in assisting in determining whether fraud is present with the online transaction. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the payment facilitator is configured to apply configured velocity rules and suspect data rules when evaluating whether fraud is present with the online transaction. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the payment facilitator is configured to notify a fraud investigator when fraud is determined to be present.