DE4426428A1 - Credit card transaction security system - Google Patents

Abstract

The security system for hindering unauthorised credit card transactions is characterised by a pre-processor device which registers an attempt to conduct a transaction and a communications link to the person authorised to carry out such transaction, and also a communication link to allow the authorised person to confirm or stop the transaction. The transaction details are forwarded to the person by a computerised account handling system. The pre-processor system has a credit card reader and is connected to communication links by mobile telephone, cellular network or similar. The account handling system dispatches the transaction information to the clients address stored in the account details.

Description

The invention relates to a security system and in particular special a security system with which an authorized Owner others at the use of his stolen Prevent credit card or a stolen cell phone can.

In modern society, more and more are happening Transactions using instant cashless payments. If someone goes shopping, a private cell phone or but a cellular phone for a local call, a long distance conversation or an international call is used paid the bill monthly or quarterly. It is also common, various as a means of payment cards such as credit cards, prepaid cards, club cards ten, phone cards or the like to use. At these transactions are debited to the user  either immediately or there is a monthly che or quarterly billing. The different Transactions also include eating in a restaurant rant, the hotel accommodation, the accommodation, the purchase of airline tickets or train tickets. After a time the bills are made by direct payment, Paid by check or the like.

It is also common to use personal security codes personal identification numbers (PINS) to authorize a transaction. A telephone, a computer or a cash register can be used to enter a PIN by which a Transak tion is authorized.

When customers use a cashless instant payment to It is not to pay bills or the like required to have substantial amounts of cash with them lead oneself. The user has a lower risk of losing cash, he doesn't feel because of of carrying cash uncomfortable and less Contact with dirty banknotes made by others People have been touched. The immediate cashless However, payments lead to problems and risks. Tran promotions with credit cards and cellular phone calls are based on modern electronic technology, Compu technology and the technology of a remote transmission supply. These technologies are known with security procedure difficult to protect. Criminals continue to use advanced technologies to help credit card users steal or their cellular phones and informa tions regarding secret codes and personal identities Gaining certification numbers to wrong transactions with the credit cards and cellular phone calls respectively. The increasing use of non-cash immediately Payments have increased these problems immensely.  

Below are examples of illegal non-cash so described further payments.

If a user's mobile phone is lost or lost is stolen, the finder or the thief can internal Characteristics of the mobile phone such as ESN or MIN ko to illegally reproduce the Manufacture of mobile phones in such a way that all other An calls made from the mobile phone who is charged to the authorized owner of the phone the.

If customer cards such as credit cards, merchandise cards or the like are stolen by a thief or else if the information contained on the credit card is stolen by and reflected by a thief Legally a card is produced, retailers can or banks the stolen credit card or the reprodu graceful credit card accept, resulting in losses at the Leads customers or at the banks. Reports show that currently approximately 20 million credit cards per Year as lost or stolen. The loss of money due to the misuse of credit cards amounts to several hundred million US $. So far there is no solution to the problems mentioned.

It is the object of the present invention, the above solve or mitigate the problems mentioned.

According to the invention, this task is performed by a safe Security system to prevent illegal transactions solved that a process facility for registration attempting a transaction or means of communication to notify an authorized person that the Transaction is an approved transaction.  

The present invention provides a method for Protect non-cash, instant payment transactions. Even if the real owner of a credit card and / or that of a mobile phone has no knowledge that stolen his card and / or cell phone, or but is lost, he can immediately know if someone stole the card and / or the cell phone fon used to conduct an illegal transaction to lead. The real owner can then decide whether the transaction is legal or illegal. If the Tran action is illegal, an immediate action can be taken be taken to the bank, the dealer or the Inform the telephone company that the il prevent legal transaction, the payment of the Goods to be rejected is the use of the credit card to stop or use the mobile phone too stop so that any loss of the true owner, the bank or the dealer is reduced or out are closed. The method according to the invention is so reduce this type of commercial offense or eli mine.

For a better understanding of the invention, Ausfü Example examples with reference to the accompanying drawings explained. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a flow chart showing how a method of using a safety system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a security system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3-1 and 3-2 schematic representation of the address codes which are stored in the account recipients GE;

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another security system which realizes the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of another security system which realizes the vorlie invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram of a computer center processing signal signals for use with a security system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a police information unit for use with a security system embodying the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a flow chart indicating the steps according to a method of using a security system according to the invention. When a person uses a cell phone or a car phone to make a call, or someone tries to complete a transaction using a credit card, a non-cash instant payment transaction occurs. Such a transaction is referred to below as an "operation". The dialing process of the mobile phone informs a computer-aided accounting system of the telephone company that operates the mobile phone that uses the mobile phone and begins to calculate the time, location, distance and cost of the phone call. When someone uses a credit card to effect a transaction and the credit card is read by a credit card reader at the point of sale, a computerized accounting system in a bank or the merchant begins to record the transaction on the card. At this point in time, the computerized accounting system generates a process signal at the bank, for example. The computer-aided account management system evaluates the personal address code of the true owner of the credit card or the telephone from the information provided. An output device in the computer-aided accounting system outputs a signal, which includes the process signal, to a process signal transmission station by means of radio transmission, telephone lines or other communication lines. The event transmission station processes the received signals and transmits these signals over a large area. The true owner of the credit card or cellular phone carries an account receiver that receives the transmitted signal including the process signal, thereby notifying the true owner that a transaction indicating a transaction is by someone who using his credit card or phone.

The account recipient can, for example, display a indicate that the character indicates "B25" to indicate that the card of the owner in a transaction with the Amount of US 25 is used. An indication "STBJ" can for example, indicate that the cell phone is used which is used to make calls with Beÿing. When the owner sends the signal through the account recipient the owner can immediately decide whether the Operation is lawfully authorized by him or un authorized to be executed by others. For example  if the phone used to make the call is an illegal reproduction of the phone or but whether the credit card is a fake reproduction use of stolen cards. Depending of predefined commands, if the computer supported accounting system no opposite receives instructions, for example within two or the computerized accounting system for three minutes authorize the process. If the real owner believes that the operation is unjustified, he can immediately use any form of communication device, et wa a phone to the respective computer-based Kon to inform the management system that the Operation is unlawful. If so, will the computer-aided accounting system is a default signal back to the point of sale or to the bank to the institution where the operation is taking place notify that the operation must be rejected or but that the process must be ended. The signal on the Screen of the facility reading the credit card on For example, the place of sale may indicate that the Card is rejected, or the signal that the Operation of the mobile phone is allowed to be interrupted to end the conversation. In this case, the real one Owner, bank, phone company, or Dealers any loss due to an unlawful Avoid or at least reduce the process. Commercial che offenses of this kind can be reduced. Of the whole process can take about a minute or two or but also less.

Referring now to FIG. 2. A system is shown which comprises: a plurality of transaction devices 1 , a plurality of corresponding computer-aided accounting systems 2 , one or more event signal transmission stations 3 , a plurality of account receivers 4 and one or more transmission devices. The process devices 1 , as mentioned above, can be various devices, such as credit card reading devices, mobile phones, cash registers or the like, each of which is a device for non-cash, immediate payment. Before operation devices 1 generate process signals when a transaction takes place and send the process signal to the computer-aided accounting system 2 . The computer-based accounting system 2 has a central processing unit (CPU) 2 a, an output device 2 b and a personal secret information memory 2 c. The CPU 2a is used, the received signal in the operation of the on junction device 1 by the operation record information. For example, if the computerized accounting system is a bank computer, the information will take place using the credit cards, the time and date of the transaction, the card number, or if the CPU is a telephone company computer, the information will be the number of the cell phone , The place where the phone calls and the granted telephone number, the time and date, the duration of the call, etc. The CPU 2 a will fall back on the personal address code, which is stored in the personal secret information memory 2 c, which by Process the process device 1 indicated signals and send out the process signals including the process signals to the output unit 2 b. The output device 2 b immediately gives all information signals, the transmission station 3 for the process signals by means of a wireless transmission, the telephone network or a suitable communication cable. The transfer station 3 for the process signal has a code editor 3 a, a program controller 3 b, a receiving and personal address code memory 3 c and a transmitter 3 b, which receives the incoming information signals and checks whether the personal secret code of the true owner it is the same as the personal address code in the memory 3 c in order to encode it in the coded editor 3 a. The program controller 3 b transmits the code signal to the transmitter 3 d, which transmits the coded process information directly into an area in which the true owner is, so that the true owner can receive the process information signals. The real owner must have an account recipient 4 to receive the transaction information. The account receiver 4 has ei NEN receiver 4 a, a decoder 4 b, a central computing unit (CPU) 4 g, c a random access memory (RAM) 4, f is a responder 4 e, a display 4 and a serving for identification read-only memory (ROM) 4 d.

The receiver 4 a receives the coded event information signals, which is transmitted from the transmission station 3 for the event signals and sends them to the decoder 4 b. The decoder 4 b refers to the personal address code of the true owner in the identification ROM 4 d and encodes the event information signals and sends these signals to the CPU 4 g. The CPU 4 g controls the program arrangements and starts at the addressing unit 4 e and the display 4 f and the RAM 4 c. The response unit 4 e may be a sound unit, a Vibra tion device having a liquid crystal display or the like and is used to set the true owner of the fact informed that a relevant him operation takes place. The display unit 4 f shows the information that affects the process be. The random access memory (RAM) 4 c is a memory which is used to temporarily store the process information. If the true owner needs the process information, he can use the information stored in the memory 4 c. If the true owner no longer needs the information, he can enter commands to delete the information stored in the memory 4 c.

The true owner can judge from the display 4 f whether the process is authorized or not. If the process is initiated by the true owner himself, such as a manager who uses a company credit card to pay an invoice to invite company guests for a meal, the process is justified. The real owner of the credit card doesn't need to do anything else. The process is authorized as described above and can continue. If the symbols shown on the display 4 f let the real owner know that the operation is unauthorized, such as an operation in which someone uses the owner's cell phone that he has just lost, or if someone has a fake credit If the card with stolen information is used to cause the owner to pay an invoice, the real owner can use any communication device, such as a telephone, to inform the corresponding computer-based accounting system 2 , reject the unauthorized process or stop it . The computerized accounting system 2 is in accordance with this arrangement, in which the true owner the command signals to reject or stop the operation to the operation device 1 sen. If, for example, the process device 1 is a device for reading a credit card by instructing the device to reject the payment, or by returning it to the mobile phone used in each case and to interrupt the conversation. In this way, the losses of the true owner of the credit card and / or the mobile phone can be reduced, as well as the losses of the bank or the telephone company. In this way, commercial offenses can be reduced or avoided using unauthorized instant cash payment transactions. Such a system has great benefits for a country's society and economy.

The computer-based accounting system 2 can be the existing computer-based accounting system used by banks or telephone companies with an additional expenditure facility 2 b. The output device 2 b is used to transmit the process information for the true owner to the transfer station for the process signal. The transmission station 3 for the process signal can be a commonly used paging system or another form of transmission station. The account recipient can be a pager, a portable pager, a table pager or a clock with a CPU 4 g, an immediate attention-generating unit 4 e and a display 4 f for receiving and displaying an operation-related information signals. Alternatively, the account recipient can be a mobile phone, a normal telephone or a computer or a specially trained electrical or electronic device for receiving and displaying information signals relating to a process and for causing the real owner's attention due to the attention-generating unit 4 e.

Fig. 3 shows two examples of account recipients 4 and the respective identification ROM 4 d of the account recipient 4 . The account recipient 4 has a personal identity code, which is in the identification ROM 4 d from the transmission station 3 for the process signal. The address code is similar to that given to the pager used, such that the pager is selectively identifiable by the paging station. By means of the address code, a message from the transmission station 3 for the process signal is not received by each account recipient 4 , but only by the account recipient 4 , who is the account recipient 4 of the person in question. The address code can be a number with several digits, such as an eight-digit number, a ten-digit number, etc. The person who carries the account recipient 4 does not need to know the personal identity address code. The personal identity code can be previously registered in the ID ROM 4 d by the manufacturer of the recipient of the account or can be written by the transfer station for the process signal or by the user who manually changes the address code and then the transfer station for that Process signal informs. Generally speaking, at least one personal address code is present in the ID ROM 4 d of the account recipient 4 , as shown in Fig. 3-1. The account receiver 4 must be able to receive process signals, for example process signals of various credit cards, when the expenditure device 2 b of the computer-aided account management system of the bank transmits the process signals. A different code that identifies the real owner of the credit card must be added. If the distinction code of a person is CB 12450 and the process signal B 25, the display 4 f of the account recipient 4 will indicate the symbols CB 12450 + B 25.

The account recipient shown in Fig. 3-2 can receive before signals from the use of a credit card. The bank that issues the credit cards can enter a B address code into the identification ROM 4 d of the account recipient in the bank computer system, which can distinguish other credit cards. For each de credit card, the bank writes a B address code for the true owner, ie the credit card owner, in the ID ROM of the account recipient 4 . In the same way, the telephone company uses the computer-aided writing system 2 for each mobile telephone in order to write a T address code into the identification ROM 4 d of the account receiver 4 for the true owner. So then at least one identification code is written in the account receiver 4 by the transmission station for the process signal, a B address code is written in by the respective bank and a T address code is written in by the respective telephone company.

All of these codes can of course be written from a pager menu if the account recipient uses a pager. Usually two or more address codes are provided in the account recipient 4 . When the operation takes place, as in the above-mentioned example, the display 4 f of the receiver only accounts B 25 instead of CB 12450 + B show 25th Since the address code has already been written into the account recipient 4 , the symbol CB 12450 can be stored and further information symbols relating to the process can be shown on the display 4 f. In this way, more process information can be displayed to the real owner.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment similar to that shown in Fig. 2, in which a plurality of process devices each belong to a corresponding computer-aided writing system. The majority of computer-aided writing systems work on a single transmission station 3 for the event signals. Since the transmission station 3 for the process signals is connected to a plurality of computer-based accounting systems 2 , the code editor 3 a can increase the working capacity and the speed of the process information.

The whole process from the occurrence of the process to displaying the process information on the account receiver 4 takes only seconds.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the prior invention, the many computer-aided writing systems by working on the appropriate number of transmission stations 3 for the process signal to transmit process information.

The event information signals can be found under the About transmission stations for the process signals in such a way will carry that the process information signals over different areas, different regions in one Country or different countries or even across the world be transmitted.

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention, wherein a plurality of computer-aided computer writing systems and a plurality of transmission points for the process signal are interconnected by a single computer-based processing center 3 for the process signal, which processes a large number of process information processed by all computer-based accounting systems 2 come and that the signals are transmitted directly to the correct transmission stations for the process signal in order to transmit this information.

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of the prior invention, which has a unit 2 f in the computerized accounting system. If the true owner has indicated that an operation is unauthorized and the operation is rejected or stopped, the police information unit activates and informs the police that a before the instruction is sent to the operation facility unauthorized process takes place and where the process is located so that the police can intervene directly to arrest the person who is acting without authorization.

Of course, a more sophisticated account recipient 4 can be used, which contains more information, such as what type of transaction is being carried out, what card is being used, the number of the credit card, how much money is being spent on the transaction, what type of phone is being used, whether this is is a cell phone, a car phone, a cellular phone or a phone with a secret number, the place and time of the phone call, the number dialed and the place where the credit card was used. All of this information can be indicated by symbols, words or characters on a display on the account recipient 4 . In this way, the true owner can do what is necessary to end the process.

The procedure and the security create accordingly system according to the present invention credit card or mobile phone immediate knowledge that a transaction is occurring, so that the real owner can take appropriate action when non-cash immediate payment transactions such as payments with a credit card, dialing with a mobile phone or the like happen.

It is understood that if an immediate cashless Payment transaction occurs that corresponding calculator supported accounting system to be operated.  

The computer-based accounting system can be used by Com computer system of the bank or the computer system a service company, such as Computersy stem of a service provider for a cellular telephone. Alles the above computer systems are referred to here as "computational supported accounting systems ". The computer supported accounting system is intended to provide information signals output that involve an operation (a cashless immediate payment transaction) takes place and the in personal address code of the true owner that is recorded in the system to the transmission station for the default signal means of a communication method, such as a wireless communication, a transmission information about the telephone network or a suitable communication cable. The transmission station for the process signals sends immediately the information signals for the process ent speaking ID code of the real owner in the Sta tion in the appropriate area. The real owner can quickly pick up the signals from an account recipient that he carries with him, that one concerning him Process takes place. According to the received signal le the real owner can judge whether he owns a Must take action or not. Within a pre given period of about two to three minutes when the real owner does nothing that the real owner agrees with the process stood and the process is authorized. The real owner should assume that the process an illegal use of a stolen credit card or the like, it can be any communica Use the appropriate means to calculate the appropriate computation based accounting system from illegal use to be informed. A computerized Kon guidance system will send signals back to the site at which the process occurs, for example back to the cross  dit card reading device to refuse payment like or signals can be sent to the cell phone to interrupt the telephone connection. The Losses of the true owner or those affected Service company or bank are reduced or avoided. The commercial offense of use from counterfeit credit cards or stolen cellular this prevents phones.

Claims (12)

1. A security system to prevent illegal transactions, characterized by :

• - a process device ( 1 ) for registering the attempt of a transaction; and
• - Communication means ( 3 ) for notifying a person authorized for such a transaction of the attempted transaction.

2. A security system according to claim 1, characterized by further communication means ( 4 ) which allow the authorized person to authorize or attempt to prevent the attempted transaction. 3. A security system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a computer-aided account management system is provided, the computer-based account management system being in communication with the process device ( 1 ) in order to receive and operate details of the attempted transaction, to provide further details of the attempted transaction to the authorized person. 4. A security system according to one of the preceding claims for immediately informing the beneficiary that a non-cash, immediate payment transaction that affects him is taking place, characterized by:

• - a process device ( 1 ); a computerized accounting system ( 2 ); a transmission station ( 3 ) for a process signal; and an account receiver ( 4 ), the process device ( 1 ) having a credit card reading device for reading a credit card, a membership card, a club card, a magnetic card, etc. in order to effect payment or various types of mobile telephones such as cellular telephones, car phones, secret code phones, etc., if an operation takes place, wherein the Vorgangsein device (1) generates an operation information and transmits the operation information to a corresponding rechnerge assisted account management system (2), wherein the computer-based account management system (2) which a next operation information signals from the process processed device (1), personal Adreßco de compares the true owner of the code in the personal Name chen secret information storage, this in formation of the transfer station (3) for the operation transmitted signal, the transfer station (3) for the process signal a Codeed itor ( 3 a), a program controller ( 3 b), a storing and personal address code memory ( 3 c) and a transmitter ( 3 d) on; the code editor ( 3 a) combines the personal address code of the real authorized person in the memory and personal address code memory ( 3 c), the received various information signals encoding the process, the program controller ( 3 b) the transmitter ( 3 d) immediately causes the coded signals of the information signals relating to the process to be sent out in combination with the personal address code, the recipient of the account ( 4 ) a receiver, a decoder which attracts attention ( 4 b) with a RAM ID ROM, a display unit ( 4 f) and the CPU ( 4 g); the receiver the encoded in formation signals, the code on the personal address, which is transmitted from the transmission station for the pre-cross signal, receives and sends (4 b) to the decoder of the decoding by the control of the CPU (4 g) in order to start the attention unit ( 4 e), to sound, a vibration, a flashing LCD or the like to show the incoming information, and the display unit ( 4 f), the information relating to the process by means of symbols, numbers, Words or characters represents, and storing the information related to the process in the RAM ( 4 c) for later use.

5. A security system according to claim 4, characterized in that the computerized account management system ( 2 ) is a computerized account management system ( 2 ) for credit cards, which is used in a bank with an additional output device, or is a computerized telephone account system, which is in a telephone company is used with an additional output device. 6. A security system according to claim 4 or 5, because characterized in that the the process signal over worn station a paging station or a pa system is. 7. A security system according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the account recipient ( 4 ) is a portable pager, a panel pager, a clock, a mobile phone, a general telephone computer or a specially trained electrical or electronic device for receiving is a process related information signals and the display of the information related to the process and has an attention-generating unit for alerting the affected true owner. 8. A security system according to one of claims 4 or 7, wherein the ID ROM of the account recipient ( 4 s) we least has a personal address code ID code, which is registered by the transfer station ( 3 ) for the process signal and / or further address code , such as a T-address code, which is registered by a telephone company and / or a B-address code, which is registered by a computer-based accounting system ( 2 ) of a bank. 9. A security system according to claim 4, characterized in that the transmission station ( 3 ) for the process signal sends out different display symbols for un different processes, such as "BK" for a process using a credit card, an "ST" for a process with a cellular phone fon, "KT" relating to an operation with a telephone with a secret code, digits relating to the monetary value of the operation and symbols and digits and words and characters relating to the location of the operation, the telephone number called and the like. 10. A security system according to claim 4, characterized in that a plurality of computer-aided accounting system ( 2 ) are provided, which can be connected in a network, whereby the signal area emitted by the transmission station ( 3 ) for the process signal will be chosen as required. 11. A security system according to claim 4 or 10, because characterized in that the computerized processing processing center is provided for the process signal, by the number of signals related to the operation enlarge and the processing speed to he heights. 12. A method of using an electrical or electronic communication system for immediate in form the true beneficiary that one concerns him fender non-cash payment transaction takes place records through the following steps: Submit egg to the true information concerning the process Authorized during the process, poss a decision of the true beneficiary whether the Operation is authorized and informing the operation executive body from the decision of the Be justified.