Patent ID: 7083084

Claim:
A computerized method for managing stored-value card data over a communications network between a plurality of terminals and a central processor, each of said terminals accessible to respective users and located in a respective location generally remote relative to the central processor, the stored-value card data configured to securely process stored value cards transacted by respective users to enable charging prepaid services and/or products to a recipient of the transacted stored-value card, the method comprising: providing a database coupled to the central processor; storing in the database a plurality of records comprising stored-value card data for each stored-value card; processing respective identifiers of each terminal; associating in each stored record the captured terminal identifiers to uniquely match a respective stored-value card and a respective terminal; and transmitting a request of stored-value card activation to the central processor from a respective requesting terminal, the central processor configured to accept said activation request based on whether the associated identifiers for the stored-value card to be activated match identifiers actually transmitted by the requesting terminal for that stored-value card and terminal, thus preventing fraud in the activation of that stored-value card.