Patent ID: 8881976

Claim:
A method for use by law enforcement for obtaining a balance and seizing funds from a prepaid access device, the method comprising the steps of: providing machine readable instructions stored in machine readable memory for executing the method in one or more a data processing systems; entering indicia from the prepaid access device into the one or more data processing systems; forwarding a balance inquiry instruction to an issuing processor, which then polls an issuing financial institution in regard to the balance of funds available in an associated account corresponding to the prepaid access device; receiving a value for the balance of funds available in the associated account; forwarding an encumbering instruction for the value of the balance of funds in the associated account, which includes one of a seize instruction and a freeze instruction, and forwarding the encumbering instruction to the issuing processor and the issuing financial institution; and forwarding a claiming instruction to the issuing processor and financial institution to forward the value of the balance of funds from the associated account to a law enforcement account.