Fraud Deterrence for Electronic Transactions

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for providing fraud deterrents during e-commerce, e-transactions, and digital rights management and access. One or more fraud deterrents may be automatically selected by a client, seller, bank, or other third-party and may be implemented or presented to the client as a potential fraud deterrent option that may be chosen. Fraud deterrent options may be provided which are associated with particular aspects of the transaction including a client's profile, the value of an item, or the preferences of the seller. The fraud deterrent features can be provided as part of a digital shopping cart and may be highly customized by the client including allowing the client to customize conceptual passwords which are presented during subsequent transactions.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction comprising
 a. operating a first server computer configured to graphically present to a user a browser window that displays information related to a first website having a first option of using a first method of identity validation related to an electronic transaction and also always presenting to the user a second option related to a second method of identity validation using a fraud free transaction method and allowing the user to select at least one of the first method and second method which is a fraud free transaction method whereby a distributed validation identity is realized;   b. operating the first server computer to allow the user to perform the first method of identity validation in the case where the first method is selected by the user, and   c. operating the first server computer which is configured both to communicate with a second server computer and to provide the user with an interface for providing information associated with a fraud free transaction service in the case where the second method is selected by the user, the second server computer being configured to receive the information provided by the user as part of the transaction and to compare the information provided by the user as part of the transaction with information previously provided by a client of the fraud free service in order to evaluate if the information provided by the user either matches in which case the information provided by the user as part of the transaction is correct information or does not match in which case the information provided by the user as part of the transaction is incorrect information, and;   in the case where the user provides correct information to the fraud free transaction service then operating the second server to send a decision signal to the first server indicating that the user's identity has been successfully verified;   in the case where the user provides incorrect information to the fraud free transaction service then operating the second server to send a decision signal to the first server indicating that the user's identity has not been successfully verified and further operating the second server to perform at least one transaction rejection operation in response to the identity not being successfully verified, the transaction rejection operation selected from the group of: notifying a client who has previously registered with the fraud free transaction service of this rejection; notifying the user of this rejection; submitting the transaction for review by a customer service representative; allowing for a re-attempt of the transaction, increasing a fraud score for the client's identity, performing fraud alerting activities if certain types of rejections are detected at more than a specified rate of occurrence, collecting and logging an internal footprint of the user's device, collecting and logging an external footprint of the user's device, and, updating the historical record of rejection, and combinations thereof; and,   wherein the second method of identity validation is independent from a step of making a payment with a credit card.   
     
     
         2 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the first server is further configured for operating upon the signal in order to approve or reject the transaction. 
     
     
         3 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic transaction is related to providing the user access to a website. 
     
     
         4 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic transaction adjusts steps related to subsequently granting the user permission to make a payment, based upon fraud deterrents selected by the client. 
     
     
         5 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the website content that is subsequently shown to a user is modified based upon whether the user selects the first or second method of identity validation. 
     
     
         6 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the first method of identity validation is achieved by having the user log into the first website using login and password and wherein the first method does not require communication between the first server computer and the second server computer. 
     
     
         7 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the second method of identity validation is achieved by having the user verify their identity by successfully providing pre-selected information to a second server that offers a fraud free transaction service, the pre-selected information comprising at least one of a) a signal communicated between a device and the second server, said signal indicating that the user is operating a device that has been previously registered with the second server, and b) logon and password information previously registered with the second server, said information being evaluated by the second server and resulting in the user's identity being successfully verified or rejected. 
     
     
         8 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the identity validation is related to subsequently providing authorization to use a at least one credit card. 
     
     
         9 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction is related to obtaining goods and services which are offered by the first website. 
     
     
         10 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein operating the first server computer to allow the user to perform the first method of identity validation in the case where that method is selected by the user comprises subsequently causes the first server computer to communicate with a third server computer that operates a 3 rd  party validation service hosted by a card association network. 
     
     
         11 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction is related to gaining access to a service provided by a third party. 
     
     
         12 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the interface is a pop-up browser window. 
     
     
         13 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the interface is non-browser-based pop-up window operated by software installed on a user device which is configured to communicate with the second server. 
     
     
         14 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the interface is non-browser-based pop-up window operated by software installed on a user device which is configured to communicate with the second server, and the validation information requested by the pop-up windows is dynamic and set dependent upon the characteristics of the transaction. 
     
     
         15 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the second method of identity validation requires that the user is operating a device that has been registered with the fraud free transaction service. 
     
     
         16 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the second method of identity validation is achieved by having the user verify their identity by successfully logging into a social network site which is associated with at least the second server, the at least one second server further configured with software that operates to provide a fraud free transaction service. 
     
     
         17 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the second method of identity validation is having the user verify their identity by successfully interacting with a software module operated upon at least the second server which also is associated with a social network service, the software module configured to operate as a fraud free transaction service that is linked to a particular e-identity defined for the social network service. 
     
     
         18 . The method for verifying a user's identity during an electronic transaction of  claim 1 , wherein the second method of identity validation using a fraud free transaction method also allows the user to select which fraud prevention options are allowed.