Method and system for providing alert messages related to suspicious transactions

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing alerts to a user. The systems and methods may include a financial service provider including a memory device storing instructions. The financial service provider may also include at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a plurality of operations. The operations may include receiving data relating to an activity of a user. The operations may also include identifying a merchant based at least on the received data. The operations may also include accessing historical fraud or disputes data associated with at least one of the user and the merchant. The operations may also include determining whether the received data triggers an alert. The operations may further include sending an alert message to a user device associated with the user when the processor determines that the received data triggers the alert.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing alerts to a user, comprising:
 a memory device storing instructions:   at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:
 receiving data relating to a transaction activity of the user; 
 identifying a merchant based at least on the received data; 
 accessing historical fraud or disputes data associated with at least one of the user and the merchant; 
 determining whether the received data triggers an alert; and 
 sending an alert message to a user device associated with the user when the processor determines that the received data triggers the alert. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is part of a server operated by a financial service provider. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data relating to the transaction activity of the user comprises data relating to a prepurchase activity, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to send the alert message prior to the user completing a purchase with the merchant. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the data relating to the pre-purchase activity comprises positioning data of the user, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to identify the merchant based at least on the positioning data. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the data relating to the pre-purchase activity comprises information indicating swiping of a bank card. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 receiving a user response to the alert message;   determining whether the user wishes to receive additional information based on the received user response; and   providing the user with the additional information when it is determined that the user wishes to receive the additional information.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the additional information comprises rating or review information about the merchant. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the received data triggers an alert further comprises determining whether a transaction is suspicious based on at least one of a deviation of an amount of the transaction from a normal or average amount, a location of the transaction, a type of the transaction, or a frequency of the transaction. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 assigning a reputation score to the merchant based on a result of analyzing historical fraud or disputes data related to the merchant;   determining whether the merchant is associated with a low reputation score; and   processing a dispute brought by the user on an expedited basis when the merchant is associated with a low reputation score.   
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method for proving alerts to a user, comprising:
 receiving data relating to a transaction activity of the user;   identifying a merchant based at least on the received data;   accessing, via at least one processor, historical fraud or disputes data associated with at least one of the user and the merchant;   determining whether the received data triggers an alert; and   sending an alert message to a user device associated with the user hen the at least one processor determines that the received data triggers the alert.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is part of a server operated by a financial service provider. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the data relating to the transaction activity comprises data relating to a pre-purchase activity, and wherein sending the alert message comprises sending the alert message prior to the user completing a purchase with the merchant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the data relating to the pre-purchase activity comprises positioning data of the user, and wherein identifying the merchant comprises identifying the merchant based at least on the positioning data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , determining whether the received data triggers an alert comprises:
 assigning a transactional score to a transaction;   comparing the transactional score with a predetermined threshold score; and   determining whether the transaction is suspicious based on a result of the comparing.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a user response to the alert message;   determining whether the user wishes to receive additional information based on the received user response; and   providing the user with the additional information when it is determined that the user wishes to receive the additional information.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the additional information comprises rating or review information about a merchant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 accessing data relating to at least one of an offer, promotion, or discount provided by the merchant; and   wherein the alert message includes information relating to the at least one of the offer, promotion, or discount provided by the merchant.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 assigning a reputation score to the merchant based on a result of analyzing historical fraud or disputes data related to the merchant;   determining whether the merchant is associated with a low reputation score; and   processing a dispute brought by the user on an expedited basis when the merchant is associated with a low reputation score.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving data relating to a transaction activity of a user;   identifying a merchant based at least on the received data;   accessing historical fraud or disputes data associated with at least one of the user and the merchant;   determining whether the received data triggers an alert; and   sending an alert message to a user device associated with the user when the processor determines that the received data triggers the alert.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computerareadable medium of  claim 19 , the operations further comprising:
 assigning a reputation score to the user based on a result of analyzing historical fraud or disputes data related to the user;   determining whether the user is associated with a high reputation score; and   processing a dispute brought by the user on an expedited basis when the user is associated with a high reputation score.