Method and system for employing phone number analysis to detect and prevent spam and e-mail scams
US7917655B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 23, 2009 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q10/107
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for identifying scam e-mails using phone number analysis whereby a set of potential scam e-mail identification rules is created and data representing the potential scam e-mail identification rules is stored in a data storage device. Incoming e-mails are then scanned under the direction of one or more processors by an e-mail security system to detect phone numbers present in the incoming e-mails using one or more phone number detection parameters. Any potential phone numbers detected using the one or more phone number detection parameters are then normalized. In one embodiment, the normalized potential phone numbers are then analyzed using the potential scam e-mail identification rules to identify potential scam phone numbers. The e-mails including the identified potential scam phone numbers then have their status transformed to that of potential scam e-mails.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.