Patent ID: RE44542

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for verifying a check that is being used for an on-line transaction, comprising: entering in by a customer obtaining, using a computer, data obtained from a MICR line of the check, the data including a product code and a one-way hash value that is based on the data provided on the MICR line as well as private data not provided on a face of the check, the private data being a numerical value previously provided by the a customer and that is stored in a database accessible by a check verifier computer and the product code indicative of information related to the check or associated account and wherein the one-way hash value is included as an n-digit field at one end of the MICR line, n being an integer greater than one ; receiving , by a web server of a merchant for which the customer seeks to make the on-line transaction, the data entered by the customers , the data being received by way of a computer network; transmitting , by the web server of the merchant to the check verifier computer, by way of the computer network , the data entered by the customer ; and verifying by the check verifier whether or not the check is valid wherein the verifying is performed by the check verifier obtaining said private data of the customer and computing , by the check verifier computer, a hash value based on the data entered by the customer and provided to it by the web server as well as the obtained private data of the customer that is obtained from the database accessible by the check verifier ; and wherein the one-way hash value is included as an n-digit field at one end of the MICR line, n being an integer greater than one determining, by the check verifier computer, that the computed hash value matches the one-way hash value and generating, by the check verifier computer, a verification result based in part on the data received from the web server, and the determination that the computed hash matches the one-way hash value; retrieving a product code message associated with the product code; sending the verification result and the product code message to the web server; and accepting, by the web server, the check based on the verification result and the received product code message .