Timothy F Byrd

US Patent:

7980464, Jul 19, 2011

Filed:

Dec 23, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/343036

Inventors:

Helen Sarris - Burlington NJ, US
Timothy B. Byrd - Charlotte NC, US
Rhonna J. Clark - Charlotte NC, US
Chuan Bin Lin - Richardson TX, US
Daniel P. Shnowske - Waxahachie TX, US
William Treadwell - Addison TX, US
Mian Zhou - Dallas TX, US

Assignee:

Bank of America Corporation - Charlotte NC

International Classification:

G06Q 40/00
G07D 11/00
G07F 19/00

US Classification:

235379, 705 43, 705 44

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided for protecting against bank card fraud and related crimes by providing a distress/fraud trigger at bank card machines, such as automated teller machines and point-of-sale terminals. The trigger initiates certain heightened-security processes designed to stop the crime, control damage, and help apprehend the criminal. For example, in one embodiment, the trigger involves the cardholder inputting a “panic” personal identification code into the bank card machine. The panic personal identification code indicates to a party involved in the bank card transaction that a fraudulent transaction may be taking place. The heightened-security processes may include, for example, displaying that the bank card machine is out-of-order, dispensing money with a GPS tracking device, requesting additional identification steps, instituting delay tactics, notifying on-site personnel, or forwarding audio or video information from the bank card machine to a bank's command center in real time or near real time.