Fraud and reputation protection using advanced authorization and rules engine

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented for analyzing a credit card or other financial transaction and, based on whether a score for the transaction meets or exceeds a user-selected threshold, sending a transaction notification message to a consumer's electronic device such as a cell phone.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving an authorization request message comprising transaction data at a server computer, wherein the authorization request message requests approval to conduct a transaction;   generating a score based on the transaction data;   comparing the score to a user selected threshold; and   sending a transaction notification message to a consumer device used by a consumer if the score meets or exceeds the threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving the user selected threshold from a user.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the user selected threshold is received from the user through an enrollment process for transaction notification messages. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a probable next transaction for the consumer based upon the transaction and past transactions of the consumer; and   selecting a coupon for the probable next transaction, wherein the coupon is sent with the transaction notification message.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 receiving an indicator that the coupon was presented at a next transaction by the consumer;   adjusting a second score representing a probability that the next transaction on the account is fraudulent, thereby lowering the second score.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 receiving a response from the consumer device that the attempted transaction was not fraudulent; and   adjusting a second score representing a probability that the next transaction on the account is fraudulent.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein content of the transaction notification message is based on the score. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the transaction notification message includes the score. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transaction is attempted with a merchant, and the score is based upon merchant parameters selected from the group consisting of a type of the merchant, how long the merchant has been in business, and where the merchant is located. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the type of the merchant is indicated by a merchant category code (MCC) associated with the merchant. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the score is based upon transaction parameters selected from the group consisting of where the transaction is attempted and what time of day the transaction is attempted. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transaction data include data from a credit card. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selecting the consumer device from a list of consumer devices for the consumer to which to send the transaction notification message.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 selecting a communication channel based on the score, whereby a faster communication channel is selected for a higher probability of fraud.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the communication channel is selected from the group consisting of email, short message service (SMS), an audio message, and an interactive voice response (IVR) telephone call. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transaction is a purchase. 
     
     
         17 . A machine-readable storable medium embodying information indicative of instructions for causing one or more machines to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 receiving an authorization request message comprising transaction data at a server computer, wherein the authorization request message requests approval to conduct a transaction;   generating a score based on the transaction data;   comparing the score to a user selected threshold; and   sending a transaction notification message to a consumer device used by a consumer if the score meets or exceeds the threshold.   
     
     
         18 . A computer system executing instructions in a computer program, the computer program instructions comprising:
 program code to receive an authorization request message comprising transaction data at a server computer, wherein the authorization request message requests approval to conduct a transaction;   program code to generate a score based on the transaction data;   program code to compare the score to a user selected threshold; and   program code to send a transaction notification message to a consumer device used by a consumer if the score meets or exceeds the threshold.