Fraud detection system, method, and device

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of authenticating a transaction, the method having: responsive to receiving a request for authenticating a transaction involving a first device and including first device information defining at least one first device characteristic of the first device, obtaining second device information defining at least one second device characteristic of a second device associated with the transaction; determining a level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information; and authenticating the transaction based on the level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information, wherein the transaction is authenticated when the level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information is above a pre-determined threshold.

1 . A method of authenticating a transaction, the method comprising:
 responsive to receiving a request for authenticating a transaction involving a first device and including first device information defining at least one first device characteristic of the first device,   obtaining second device information defining at least one second device characteristic of a second device associated with the transaction;   determining a level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information; and   authenticating the transaction based on the level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information, wherein the transaction is authenticated when the level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information is above a pre-determined threshold.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein, determining a level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information comprises:
 obtaining a dynamic weighting factor corresponding to each the at least first device characteristic and the at least one second device characteristic; 
 applying the dynamic weighting factor to the first device information and the second device information; and 
 generating a sum correlation total, where the sum correction total comprises the calculation of dynamic weighting factors to each of the first device information and the second device information. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein, the first device and the second device are the same device. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein, the method further comprises establishing a call between a third party and an entity in response to a determination that the level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information is below a pre-determined threshold for authentication, the entity being associated with at least one of the first device and the second device. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein, the request comprises a phone number of the entity, the call between the third party and the entity being established using the phone number. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein, the method further comprises obtaining further user specific characteristics in response to a determination that the level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information is below a threshold for authentication. 
     
     
         7 . An authentication device comprising:
 a communications interface for receiving requests for authenticating transactions involving a first device, each request comprising a first device and including first device information defining at least one first device characteristic of the first device, and obtaining second device information defining at least one second device characteristic of a second device associated with the transaction;   an authentication system having a first authentication unit for, for each request:   means for obtaining second device information defining at least one second device characteristic of a second device;   means for determining a level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information; and,   means for authenticating the transaction based on the level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information, wherein the transaction is authenticated when the level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information is above a pre-determined threshold.   
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7  wherein, determining a level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information comprises:
 obtaining a dynamic weighting factor corresponding to each the at least first device characteristic and the at least one second device characteristic; 
 applying the dynamic weighting factor to the first device information and the second device information; and 
 generating a sum correlation total, where the sum correction total comprises the calculation of dynamic weighting factors to each of the first device information and the second device information. 
 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 7  wherein, the authentication device further comprises a call activation unit for establishing a call between a third party and an entity in response to a determination that the level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information is below a pre-determined threshold for authentication, the entity being associated with at least one of the first device and the second device. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 9  wherein, the request comprises a phone number of the entity, the call between the third party and the entity being established using the phone number. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 7  wherein, the device is further configured to obtain further user specific characteristics in response to a determination that the level of correlation between the first device information and the second device information is below a threshold for authentication. 
     
     
         12 - 23 . (canceled)