Method and apparatus for managing transactions

Abstract

A system receives account access information from a user. The account is then accessed using the received access information. Data is harvested from a web page associated with the account or received from another financial data source. The user's ability to access the account is authenticated based on the obtained information.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A financial system, comprising:
 at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and   at least one processor capable of accessing the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:   identify user information associated with a user and a financial account of the user and at a financial institution;   receive, on behalf of the user, account access information for accessing the financial account;   perform an online verification process to determine whether the user is authorized to access the financial account, wherein the online verification process comprises accessing a Web site with the account access information to harvest account information associated with the financial account;   determine that (i) the online verification process failed to verify the user's authorization to access the financial account, or (ii) the Web site is at least temporarily unavailable;   direct, responsive to determining the online verification process failed or the Web site is at least temporarily unavailable, one or more transactions, wherein each of the one or more transactions is associated with the financial account and a respective transaction amount unknown to the user;   receive, on behalf of the user, one or more user amounts corresponding to the one or more transaction amounts;   confirm that the received one or more user amounts correspond to the respective corresponding one or more transaction amounts; and   authorize use of the financial account on behalf of the user based on the confirming.   
     
     
         50 . The financial system of  claim 49 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 authenticate, prior to performing the online verification process, a user's identity based at least in part on the user information.   
     
     
         51 . The financial system of  claim 50 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 obtain, by the financial system, additional information from an external data source,   wherein authenticating the user's identity is based at least in part on the additional information.   
     
     
         52 . The financial system of  claim 51 , wherein the external data source comprises one of: (i) a driver's license data source; (ii) a phone data source; (iii) a credit reporting data source; (iv) a postal service data source; or (v) a government data source. 
     
     
         53 . The financial system of  claim 51 , wherein the obtained additional information comprises a score based on a level of verification attained, and wherein authenticating the user's identity is also based on comparing the score to a pre-determined threshold. 
     
     
         54 . The financial system of  claim 53 , wherein the score exceeds the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         55 . The financial system of  claim 53 , wherein the score is within an acceptable tolerance of the threshold, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 limit the user to a restricted level of service.   
     
     
         56 . The financial system of  claim 49 , wherein the account access information comprises at least one of: (i) a username; or (ii) a password. 
     
     
         57 . The financial system of  claim 49 , wherein the one or more transactions comprise at least one of: (i) one or more deposits to the financial account; (ii) one or more withdrawals from the financial account; (iii) one or more random transaction amounts. 
     
     
         58 . A method, comprising:
 identifying, by a financial system comprising one or more computers, (i) user information about a user and (ii) a financial account of the user at a financial institution;   receiving, by the financial system on behalf of the user, account access information for accessing the financial account;   performing, by the financial system, an online verification process to determine whether the user is authorized to access the financial account, wherein the online verification process comprises accessing a Web site with the account access information to harvest account information associated with the financial account;   determining, by the financial system, that (i) the online verification process failed to confirm the user's right to access the financial account, or (ii) the Web site is at least temporarily unavailable;   directing, by the financial system responsive to determining the online verification process failed or the Web site is at least temporarily unavailable, one or more transactions, wherein each of the one or more transactions is associated with a respective transaction amount unknown to the user;   receiving, by the financial system on behalf of the user, one or more user amounts corresponding to the one or more transaction amounts;   confirming, by the financial system, that the received one or more user amounts match the one or more respective corresponding transaction amounts; and   authorizing, by the financial system, use of the financial account on behalf of the user based on the confirming.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 authenticating, by the financial system and prior to performing the online verification process, a user's identity based at least in part on the user information.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising:
 obtain, by the financial system, additional information from an external data source,   wherein authenticating the user's identify is based at least in part on the additional information.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the external data source comprises one of: (i) a driver's license data source; (ii) a phone data source; (iii) a credit reporting data source; (iv) a postal service data source; or (v) a government data source. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the obtained additional information comprises a score based on a level of verification attained, and wherein authenticating the user's identify is also based on comparing the score to a pre-determined threshold. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the score exceeds the pre-determined threshold. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the score is within an acceptable tolerance of the threshold, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 limiting, by the financial system, the user to a restricted level of service.   
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the account access information comprises at least one of: (i) a username; or (ii) a password. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the one or more transactions comprise at least one of: (i) one or more deposits to the financial account; (ii) one or more withdrawals from the financial account; (iii) one or more random transaction amounts.