Bank card fraud protection system

US7980464B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Bank of America Corporation · US

Inventors

• Helen Sarris · Burlington, US
• Timothy Bonner Byrd · Huntersville, US
• Rhonna Clark · Charlotte, US
• Chuan Bin Lin · Richardson, US
• Daniel P. Shnowske · Waxahachie, US
• William Treadwell · Addison, US
• Mian Zhou · Dallas, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 23, 2008
• Grant date: Jul 19, 2011
• Expiry date: Sep 9, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07F7/1025
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for protecting against bank card fraud and related crimes by providing a distress/fraud trigger at bank card machines, such as automated teller machines and point-of-sale terminals. The trigger initiates certain heightened-security processes designed to stop the crime, control damage, and help apprehend the criminal. For example, in one embodiment, the trigger involves the cardholder inputting a “panic” personal identification code into the bank card machine. The panic personal identification code indicates to a party involved in the bank card transaction that a fraudulent transaction may be taking place. The heightened-security processes may include, for example, displaying that the bank card machine is out-of-order, dispensing money with a GPS tracking device, requesting additional identification steps, instituting delay tactics, notifying on-site personnel, or forwarding audio or video information from the bank card machine to a bank's command center in real time or near real time.