Tracking and securing electronic messages using an embedded identifier

A system for tracking and securing electronic messages, the system comprising:

• a communication interface for receiving and transmitting an electronic message via a telecommunications network;
• a database for storing a message ID with an associated originator ID, the message ID being a unique identifier of the electronic message and the originator ID being a unique identifier of a source of message data in the electronic message;
• a processing circuit;
• and
• memory having instructions stored therein that are executable by the processing circuit for causing the processing circuit to:
• receive, via the communication interface, the electronic message transmitted by a sender, the electronic message having an intended recipient and comprising first message data, wherein a sender ID is embedded in the first message data;
• generate a first message ID based on the first message data;
• determine that the first message ID matches a second message ID stored in the database;
• determine that the sender ID is different from an originator ID associated with the second message ID;
• determine whether an originator associated with the originator ID authorized the sender to transmit the message data;
• and
• determine whether to transmit the electronic message to the recipient based on whether the originator authorized the sender to transmit the first message data, wherein determining whether the originator authorized the sender to transmit the first message data further comprises:
• transmitting an authorization request to the originator in response to determining that the sender ID is different from the originator ID;
• and
• receiving authorization from the originator in response to transmitting the authorization request,
• wherein determining whether to transmit the electronic message further comprises transmitting the electronic message to the intended recipient in response to receiving authorization from the originator,
• receiving, a second electronic message transmitted by the originator, the second electronic message having a second intended recipient and comprising second message data,
• wherein receiving authorization from the originator further comprises receiving future authorization indicating the sender is authorized by the originator to retransmit the second message data in subsequent electronic messages, and storing the sender ID in the database as an authorized user associated with the second message data.

A computer program product for tracking and securing electronic messages, the computer program product comprising non-transitory computer readable medium storing program code configured to be executed by a processing circuit to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a first electronic message transmitted by an originator, the first electronic message having a first intended recipient and comprising first message data, wherein an originator ID is embedded in the first message data;
• generating a first message ID based on the first message data;
• searching a database for the first message ID;
• responsive to the first message ID being absent from the database:
• storing the first message ID and the originator ID in the database;
• and
• transmitting the first electronic message to the first intended recipient;
• receiving a second electronic message transmitted by a sender, the second electronic message having a second intended recipient and comprising second message data, wherein a sender ID is embedded in the second message data;
• generating a second message ID based on the second message data;
• searching the database for the second message ID;
• and
• responsive to the second message ID matching the first message ID in the database, comparing the sender ID with the originator ID and either:
• transmitting the second electronic message to the second intended recipient based on the originator ID matching the sender ID;
• or
• determining whether to transmit the second electronic message to the second intended recipient based on whether the sender has authorization from the originator to retransmit the first message data, wherein determining whether the originator authorized the sender to transmit the first message data comprises:
• transmitting an authorization request to the originator in response to determining that the sender ID is different from the originator ID;
• and
• receiving authorization from the originator in response to transmitting the authorization request,
• wherein determining whether to transmit the electronic message further comprises transmitting the electronic message to the intended recipient in response to receiving authorization from the originator,
• wherein receiving authorization from the originator comprises receiving future authorization indicating the sender is authorized by the originator to retransmit the second message data in subsequent electronic messages, and storing the sender ID in the database as an authorized user associated with the second message ID.