METHOD FOR PREVENTING UNAUTHORIZED USE OF CREDIT CARDS IN REMOTE PAYMENTS AND AN OPTIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL-CODE CARD FOR USE THEREIN

Abstract: Method for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments and a supplemental-code card for use thereof are disclosed. A secret unique code list is provided by the credit company to the credit card owner for use with the credit card. Code lists are distributed to the credit card owners through any acceptable way, such as through automatic teller machines (A.T.M.), code cards sold in stores, E-mail, Fax machines, etc. A copy of each code list is registered in an office of the credit company on the name of its associate credit card owner. Each code is for only a single use. The owner transmits to a creditor one code from his unique list for every separate remote payment, together with the conventional credit card data. The transmitted information is verified through a dialogue between the creditor and the credit company, which accepts or rejects the payment according to the verification result.

Description: METHOD FOR PREVENTING UNAUTHORIZED USE OF CREDIT CARDS IN REMOTE PAYMENTS AND AN OPTIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL-CODE CARD FOR USE THEREIN Field of the invention The present invention generally relates to a method for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments, and an optional supplemental-code card for use in said method. More specifically, according to the method of the present invention each remote payment is secured by a unique code (for only one time use) which is known only to the credit card owner and to the credit company. According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, lists of the unique codes are supplied to the credit card owners through automatic-teller machines (hereinafter called also A.T.M). According to another preferred embodiment, the said unique codes are supplied to the credit card owners printed on supplemental-code cards, enable to supply lists of codes confidentially, and help the credit card owners to find out the valid code for each particular remote payment. According to another preferred embodiment the said unique codes are supplied to the credit card owners by any electronic media such as Internet, E-mail etc. Background of the invention: Remote payments by credit cards take a constantly growing importance in the world economy. In the conventional credit card remote payments, a credit account is charged according to instructions and credit card details given by the customer, without checking the physical presence of the card in the customer hand. Many people hesitate to use credit card, because its details can be reached and exploited by unauthorized users. The credit cards companies have no effective way to prevent such illegal use of credit cards by unauthorized users. The purpose of the present invention is to provide facile and simple method for totally secure remote payments, without changing the conventional credit card held by the user. The method according to the present invention is for distinguishing between authorized and unauthorized payments, and an optional supplemental-code card can be used in said method together with the conventional credit card. (Another advantage in using the method of the present invention is the avoidance of mistaken payments, such as double charging). Such protection will encourage the use of credit cards in remote payments, while reducing the losses and the accompanying expenses caused by unauthorized and illegal use. The method according to the present invention and the optional supplemental-code card can be used also for regular direct credit card payments (i.e. involving presenting the physical credit card by its owner to the creditor), all according to the economic policy of the credit company. The use of the method according to the present invention will also release the existing psychological inhibitions in working with credit cards, thus increasing their request and usage. In the context of the present invention: The term "remote " - relates to a payment performed through communication between a credit card owner and a remote creditor, made by any known physical way such as electrical wires, Radio, optic fiber, and through any acceptable media such as: phone, Fax machine, mail, interactive television or Internet. The term "payments" - relates not only to payments, but to any remote activity which is involved with a transmission of valid credit card data, and makes use (or suited to make use) of the protection method of the present invention. The term: "remote payment" relates to any payment by credit card, using the card data without the presence of the physical card. The term "code" - relates to any combination of digits or letters. The term "credit company" relates to any finance or commercial entity supplying remote payments services. The term "credit card" - relates not only to a concrete physical card but (and especially) to the constant data of a credit account and its owner, which is regularly used to perform conventional remote payments. However, It has to be noted that according to the present invention (and differently from conventional credit card payments), the constant data of a credit card do not have to include a constant identification number, and all the payments can be executed using only the single use codes, together with any constant data predetermined by the credit company as a precondition for accessing the registered code list copy of the specific credit card owner, in the credit company office. Summary of the invention: The present invention relates to a method for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments comprising the steps of; (a) providing by a credit company plurality of secret code lists for use with plurality of credit cards, wherein each list is provided to the use of a single owner of at least one credit card, and each code is for only a single use (preferably, the secret codes are generated randomly by an appropriate computer program, as known in the art), and wherein a copy of the code content of each list is registered (preferably stored in a credit computer) in an office of the credit company on the name of its authorized user (hereinafter called "credit card owner"). (b) transmitting one code from said list to a creditor by the credit card owner for every separate remote payment, together with any required conventional data of the credit card, and said single use code is marked by the owner in order to prevent a double use of the same code; (c ) verifying the said single code together with the other conventional credit card data through a dialogue (by either voice, interactive television, by computer, Internet, Fax machine, mail or E-mail) between the creditor and the credit company, and accepting or rejecting the payment, according to the verification result. The said dialogue can be done either between humans, between a human and a machine or automatically between machines without the involvement of humans. (d) invalidating the single code used for an accepted payment, from the registered code list copy in the credit company office. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the code list is supplied to the credit card owners through the known existing automatic teller machines (A.T.M.). The machine is programmed for producing lists of random codes (or receiving them on-line from the computer of the credit company), printing them on a voucher for the user, and transmitting them to the credit computer of the credit company for a registration on the name of its authorized user, wherein all said procedure is executed subsequently to the detection of a physical valid automatic-teller card inserted by a user into the machine, and only after typing-on its associate secret code. According to another preferred embodiment the automatic teller machine (A.T.M.). is programmed for offering the user selecting between some customer options, such as: determining which of the credit card activities will require a supplemental-code; determining the amount of codes in the generated code list; etc. Actually, the present invention may be thought as providing an advanced credit card type, having a variable card number, varying for every single use of the card. This variable card-number is a combination of the conventional fixed card-number and the single use code. In another preferred embodiment the present invention provides a supplemental-code card (hereinafter called also "code card") for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards according to the said method, wherein the code card contains a list of codes for use in said method. Preferably, each code is covered by a removable layer of opaque material, for removal by the credit card owner according to a predetermined uncovering progression, prior to performing each remote payment. The covering material may be a removable sticker (preferably having a free end for facile pulling out), or a scratchable printing paint, or a combination thereof. In the combination, the sticker is covered with a layer of scratchable printing paint such that once it was removed it is permanently damaged, thus a double use or glimpsing the code by frauds is prevented. This combination integrates the advantage of a sticker (i.e. its facile removal) and the advantage of the scratchable paint (i.e. better confidence). It has to be noted that the method of the present invention does not rely on any physical code card, and the code list may be supplied to the users through automatic-teller machines (A.T.M.)., through an electronic wallet, through phone by voice, through a mailed letter, or through electrical means such as by facsimile machine, by the Internet, by E-mail or by any other acceptable distribution way. According to the present invention, the code may be of one character/digit or more (or a combination thereof), according to the required protection level and to other considerations of design. In terms of credit card security, such 4 digit code may be considered as unbreakable, however there is no prevention to expand it to more than 4 digits, or to use letters additionally to the digit decade. The number of codes included in one card is a matter of design. According to the present invention a card may include from one code up to several tens of codes (or more), according to the card dimensions, and the size of code characters (font size). The codes may be configured in any wanted form of columns or rows (and may be arranged either from one side or all sides of the card). Preferably, the code list can be designed to be used successively, and the computer of the credit company is programmed such that a non-permitted deviation from the successive order of the codes (there might be also a permitted deviation, all according to the predetermined rules of the credit-card company), disqualifies the whole respective code list. However, according to other embodiments, a non successive use of codes is permitted, provided that they are all of a single list, or more (as will be determined by the credit company). The supplemental code card can be made of any material, and the codes may be printed or embedded on it in any known method, and in any predetermined configuration. According to another embodiment, the codes in the card are not covered, however the card is perforated or has a cut near each code, allowing a facile removal or facile marking of used codes, by tearing the relevant perforated portions of the card, in order to prevent double use of codes. According to one preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the codes are coupled in the office of the credit company to specific credit card owners, in advance. According to other embodiments of the method of the present invention, each code list has its own identification label, and the code lists are distributed to the credit card owners randomly, by mail, stores or other acceptable distribution ways, and their copies in the office are coupled to the record of a specific credit card owner according to a later communication of each owner reporting to the company the label data of a code list to be used. In order to reduce the memory space needed for storing large scale of code lists (especially when generated in advance for large scale distribution, as hereinbefore said) it is possible to generate the codes by means of a secret computer algorithm such that said identification label of each supplemental-code card is a key for the secret algorithm for generating the list, and such that code lists do not have to be stored in the computer memory (only the key label has to be coupled to the specific owner, wherein each code is computed momentarily for checking the legality of a current remote payment). Detailed description of the invention: The present invention will be further described by figures 1 - 4. These figures are solely intend to illustrate some preferred embodiments of the supplemental code card and in no manner intend to limit the scope of the present invention. Brief description of the figures: Figure 1 illustrates a card having codes, each of four digits, covered with a scrathable material. Figure 2 illustrates a card having codes covered with stickers. Figure 3 illustrates a card having codes covered with stickers and a scratchable material, in combination. Figure 4 illustrates a card having codes, each of seven digits, covered with stickers. Figure 1 illustrates a supplemental code card (1) according to the present invention, having 15 codes arranged in three columns. Each code is of four digits (only for example purpose) and covered with a thin layer of a scratchable printing paint (5). Prior to the execution of each payment, the credit card owner has to scratch and remove the cover of another code, and to report it together with the conventional credit card data. In this figure, the code (2) and the next one, are already used. The valid code for the current payment (3), is illustrated half scratched. The card has identification number which is also covered (4) with the scratchable material. This number is for reporting to the credit company what card uses the credit card owner. It is helpful in case that the credit company supplies the owner with more than one code card at a time, or in case that the code card is acquired by the user in a store. If no identification is needed (i.e. one code card is supplied to a credit card owner at a time) the identification number is unnecessary, and the code card do not have to include it. Figure 2 illustrates a code card (6) having 15 codes, each is covered by a sticker (5). The code (8) and the two next ones, are exposed since they have already been used. The card identification (7) is also exposed. The valid code for the current payment (9) is illustrated during the removal of its sticker, which is seen half separated from the card. Figure 3 illustrates a code card (11) having 15 codes, each is covered by a combination of both a sticker and a removable layer. The end of the stickers (12) is a tag not covered by the removable layer, thus it can be easily pulled out (15) for removing the sticker. When a sticker is removed, the removable layer is permanently damaged, and the sticker cannot be repaired. Two used codes (14) and the next one, are exposed, and so is the card identification (13). Figure 4 illustrates a card (16) having codes, each of seven digits, covered with stickers. The secure given by 7 digits (from the statistical perspective) permits using the codes with no obligation to any predetermined order, thus (differently from the cards of figures 1 - 3), no serial numbers are printed adjacent to the stickers. A few used codes, which were used randomly without any successive order, are illustrated (those whose stickers are removed). The performance of a card having four digit codes as requires a successive order in its use, and of a card having seven digit codes as not requires a successive order in its use, is only for a demonstration purposes. The actual requirements are subject to the considerations of the credit company. This card is illustrated without identification number, as an example for a card supplied directly from the credit company to a specific user, thus registered in the company office on the name of the user, in advance.

Claims: Claims: 1. Method for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments comprising the steps of; (a) providing by a credit company plurality of secret code lists for use with plurality of credit cards, wherein each list is provided to the use of a single owner of at least one credit card, and each code is for only a single use, and wherein a copy of the code content of each list is registered in an office of the credit company on the name of its authorized user; (b) transmitting one code from said list to a creditor by the credit card owner for every separate remote payment, together with any required conventional data of the credit card, and said single use code is marked by the owner in order to prevent a double use with the same code; (c) verifying the said single code together with the other conventional credit card data through a dialogue between the creditor and the credit company, and accepting or rejecting the payment, according to the verification result. (d) invalidating the single code used for an accepted payment, from the registered code list copy in the credit company office. 2. Method for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments according to claim 1, wherein the code list is supplied to the credit card owners through automatic teller machines, which are programmed for producing lists of random codes, or for receiving lists of random codes on-line from a computer of credit company, printing them on a voucher for the user, and transmitting them to the credit computer of the credit company for a registration on the name of the authorized user, wherein all said procedure is executed subsequently to the detection of a physical valid credit inserted by a user into the machine, and only after typing-on its associate secret code. 3. Method for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments according to claim 2, wherein the automatic teller machines are programmed for offering the user selecting between customer options. 4. Method for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments according to claim 1, wherein each code list has its own identification label, and the code lists are distributed to the credit card owners randomly, by mail, stores or other acceptable distribution ways, and their copies in the office are coupled to specific credit card owner, according to a later communication of each owner reporting to the company the label data of a code list to be used. 5. Method for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments according to claim 1, wherein the codes are generated randomly by a computer program. 6. Code card for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments according to the method defined by claims 1, wherein the card contains a list of codes for use in said method, and each code is covered by a removable layer of opaque material, for removal by the credit card owner according to a predetermined uncovering progression, prior to performing each remote payment. 7. Code card for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments according to claim 6 wherein the removable layer is scratchable printing material. 8. Code card for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments according to claim 6 wherein the removable layer is a sticker. 9. Code card for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments according to claim 6 wherein the removable layer is a combination of a sticker covered by a scratchable printing material and having free tags for facile removal. 10. Code card for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments according to the method defined by claims 1, wherein the card contains a list of codes for use in said method, wherein the card is perforated or has a cut near each code, allowing a facile removal or facile marking of used codes by tearing the relevant perforated portions of the card. 11. Code card for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated. 12. Method for preventing unauthorized use of credit cards in remote payments substantially as hereinbefore described.

Inventors: BAR-LEV SHAUL, KASHTAN EHUD, SHEM-UR JONATHAN, SIVAN RONI, WOLFSON ANAT, BAR-LEV, SHAUL, KASHTAN, EHUD, SHEM-UR, JONATHAN, SIVAN, RONI, WOLFSON, ANAT
Applicants: BAR LEV SHAUL, KASHTAN EHUD, SHEM UR JONATHAN, SIVAN RONI, WOLFSON ANAT, BAR-LEV, SHAUL, KASHTAN, EHUD, SHEM-UR, JONATHAN, SIVAN, RONI, WOLFSON, ANAT
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G07F7
IPC codes: G06Q20, G07F7