Method and system for providing alert messages related to suspicious transactions

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing alerts to a user. The systems and methods may include a financial service provider including a memory device storing instructions. The financial service provider may also include at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to receive data relating to a transaction made by the user, compare the received data to a set of data associated with the user, determine whether the data relating to the transaction deviates from a set of data associated with the user by more than a threshold value, and send an alert message to a user device associated with the user when the processor determines that the data relating to the transaction deviates from the set of data associated with the user by more than the threshold value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing alerts to a user, comprising:
 a memory device storing instructions; and   at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
 receive data relating to a transaction made by the user; 
 compare the received data to a set of data associated with the user; 
 determine whether the received data relating to the transaction deviates from the set of data associated with the user by more than a threshold value; and 
 send an alert message to a user device associated with the user when the processor determines that the data relating to the transaction deviates from the set of data associated with the user by more than the threshold value. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is part of a server operated by a financial service provider. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the received data relating to the transaction includes a posted transaction amount charged by a merchant; and   wherein the set of data associated with the user includes an authorized transaction amount authorized by the user for the transaction.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the received data relating to the transaction includes at least one of a gratuity charged by the merchant or an additional fee charged by the merchant. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the set of data associated with the user includes a pattern of transactions associated with the user; and   wherein the at least one processor is configured to compare the received data relating to the transaction with the pattern of transactions associated with the user.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 ,
 wherein comparing the received data with the pattern of transactions associated with the user comprises comparing a transaction amount associated with a merchant purchase with an allowable range of transaction amounts associated with the merchant; and   wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine whether the transaction amount associated with the merchant purchase falls within the allowable range of transaction amounts associated with the merchant.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to determine the allowable range of transaction amounts based on historical transaction amounts associated with the e user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 ,
 wherein comparing the received data with the pattern of transactions associated with the user comprises comparing a transaction volume associated with a merchant with an allowable range of transaction volumes associated with the merchant; and   wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine whether the transaction volume associated with the merchant fails within the allowable range of transaction volumes associated with the merchant.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to determine the allowable range of transaction volume based on historical transaction volumes associated with the user. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to categorize a plurality of users into a plurality of segments based on at least one of a demographic factor or one or more common characteristics reflected in transaction histories associated with the plurality of users. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to categorize a first group of users into a first segment based on one or more similar demographical factors shared by the first group of users. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to categorize a first group of users into a first segment based on one or more similar transaction histories shared by the first group of users. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the set of data associated with the user includes information regarding a segment to which the user belongs.   
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method for providing alerts to a user, the method comprising the following operations performed by at least one processor:
 receiving data relating to a transaction made by the user;   comparing the received data to a set of data associated with the user;   determining whether the data relating to the transaction deviates from the set of data associated with the user by more than a threshold value; and   sending an alert message to a user device associated with the user when the processor determines that the data relating to the transaction deviates from the set of data associated with the user by more than the threshold value.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the received data relating to the transaction includes a posted transaction amount charged by a merchant; and   wherein the set of data associated with the user includes an authorized transaction amount authorized by the user for the transaction.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the received data relating to the transaction includes at least one of a gratuity charged by the merchant or an additional fee charged by the merchant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the set of data associated with the user includes a pattern of transactions associated with the user; and   wherein the at least one processor is configured to compare the received data relating to the transaction with the pattern of transactions associated with the user.   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;
 receiving data relating to a transaction made by the user;   comparing the received data to a set of data associated with the user;   determining whether the received data relating to the transaction deviates from the set of data associated with the user by more than a threshold value; and   sending an alert message to a user device associated with the user when the processor determines that the data relating to the transaction deviates from the set of data associated with the user by more than the threshold value.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the data relating to the transaction includes a posted transaction amount charged by a merchant; and   wherein the set of data associated with the user includes an authorized transaction amount authorized by the user for the transaction.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the set of data associated with the user includes a pattern of transactions associated with the user; and   wherein the at least one processor is configured to compare the received data relating to the transaction with the pattern of transactions associated with the user.