Systems and methods for verifying identities in transactions

Abstract

A computerized method of verifying the identity of an attendant operating a money transfer transaction device includes receiving at the money transfer transaction device a user identification and password from the attendant and receiving at the money transfer transaction device additional information from the attendant. The additional information relates to a security feature that limits access to the transaction device. The method also includes using the additional information, the user identification, and the password to evaluate whether to allow the attendant to operate the transaction device to process a transaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of obtaining identification information from an individual involved in a transaction, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a transaction processing device, identification information associated with the individual;   comparing the received identification information with previously stored identification information to authenticate the received identification information;   transmitting, to the transaction processing device, an authentication message indicating authentication of the received identification information;   receiving, from the transaction processing device, transaction information associated with the individual;   retrieving, based at least in part on the received identification information, other related transaction information of previous transactions;   determining, that the received transaction information triggers a flag for exceeding a threshold amount based at least in part on the other related transaction information;   in response to determining that the received transaction information triggers the flag, outputting, to the transaction processing device, a message indicating a need for additional information for completing the transaction;   receiving, from the transaction processing device, the additional information;   authorizing the transaction based at least in part on a positive authentication of the additional information; and   processing the transaction based at least in part on the positive authentication.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the previously stored identification information comprises information relating to the identity of the individual to information obtained from a credit reporting agency. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the previously stored identification information comprises information relating to the identity of the individual with information obtained from an identification information company. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the previously stored identification information comprises information relating to the identity of the individual with information in a list provided by law enforcement authorities. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received identification information comprises a username or password. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received identification information comprises a code generated by a physical device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received identification information comprises a code that is generated by a physical device associated with the individual and transmitted by the transaction processing device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received identification comprises a code generated by a physical device and the additional information comprises biometric information. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions for causing at least one computer system to obtain identification information from an individual involved in a transaction, the instructions comprising:
 receiving, from a transaction processing device, identification information associated with the individual;   comparing the received identification information with previously stored identification information to authenticate the received identification information;   transmitting, to the transaction processing device, an authentication message indicating authentication of the received identification information;   receiving, from the transaction processing device, transaction information associated with the individual;   retrieving, based at least in part on the received identification information, other related transaction information of previous transactions;   determining, that the received transaction information triggers a flag for exceeding a threshold amount based at least in part on the other related transaction information;   in response to determining that the received transaction information triggers the flag, outputting, to the transaction processing device, a message indicating a need for additional information for completing the transaction;   receiving, from the transaction processing device, the additional information;   authorizing the transaction based at least in part on a positive authentication of the additional information; and   processing the transaction based at least in part on the positive authentication.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the previously stored identification information comprises information relating to the identity of the individual to information obtained from a credit reporting agency. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the previously stored identification information comprises information relating to the identity of the individual with information obtained from an identification information company. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the previously stored identification information comprises information relating to the identity of the individual with information in a list provided by law enforcement authorities. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the received identification information comprises a username or password. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the received identification information comprises a code generated by a physical device. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the received identification information comprises a code that is generated by a physical device associated with the individual and transmitted by the transaction processing device. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the received identification comprises a code generated by a physical device and the additional information comprises biometric information. 
     
     
         17 . A system for obtaining identification information from an individual involved in a transaction, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory coupled with the one or more processors, the memory configured to store instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
 receive, from a transaction processing device, identification information associated with the individual; 
 compare the received identification information with previously stored identification information to authenticate the received identification information; 
 transmit, to the transaction processing device, an authentication message indicating authentication of the received identification information; 
 receive, from the transaction processing device, transaction information associated with the individual; 
 retrieve, based at least in part on the received identification information, other related transaction information of previous transactions; 
 determine, that the received transaction information triggers a flag for exceeding a threshold amount based at least in part on the other related transaction information; 
 in response to determining that the received transaction information triggers the flag, output, to the transaction processing device, a message indicating a need for additional information for completing the transaction; 
 receive, from the transaction processing device, the additional information; 
 authorize the transaction based at least in part on a positive authentication of the additional information; and 
 process the transaction based at least in part on the positive authentication. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the previously stored identification information comprises information relating to the identity of the individual to information obtained from a credit reporting agency. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the previously stored identification information comprises information relating to the identity of the individual with information obtained from an identification information company. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the previously stored identification information comprises information relating to the identity of the individual with information in a list provided by law enforcement authorities.