Systems and methods for accessing and using phone number validation information

A computer-implemented method for using a point of sale device to determine if a telephone number provided in association with a financial transaction is a valid number, the method comprising the acts of:

• receiving from a point of sale device input indicative of a telephone number from an entity participating in a financial transaction;
• accessing with a computer, stored information associated with the telephone number that is indicative of whether the telephone number is a valid number;
• determining, based at least in part on the stored information, whether the telephone number is a valid number;
• and
• making the results of the determination available to an operator of the point of sale device.

A computer-implemented method for determining if a telephone number provided in association with a financial transaction is a valid number, and for evaluating the risk associated with the financial transaction, based at least in part on the determination, the method comprising the acts of:

• receiving input indicative of a telephone number from an entity participating in a financial transaction;
• accessing stored information associated with the telephone number that is indicative of whether the telephone number is a valid number;
• and
• evaluating the risk of the financial transaction, based at least in part on whether the telephone number is a valid number.

A system for evaluating risk associated with a financial transaction, based at least in part on a determination of whether a telephone number provided in association with the financial transaction is a valid number, the system comprising:

• means for receiving input indicative of a telephone number from an entity participating in a financial transaction;
• means for accessing stored information indicative of whether the telephone number is a valid number;
• and
• means for evaluating risk associated with the financial transaction, based at least in part on the accessed information.

A computer storage medium having instructions encoded thereon for determining whether a telephone number provided in association with a financial transaction is a valid number, and for evaluating, based at least in part on the determination, the risk of the financial transaction, the computer storage medium comprising:

• a computer encoded instruction for receiving input indicative of a telephone number for an entity participating in a financial transaction;
• a computer encoded instruction for accessing stored information associated with the telephone number;
• a computer encoded instruction for determining whether the stored information indicates that the telephone number is a valid number;
• and
• a computer encoded instruction for evaluating the risk of the financial transaction, based at least in part on the determination.

A device for assisting a sales person in assessing the risk of accepting a non-cash payment from an entity at a point of sale for a good or service, the device comprising:

• an input component that inputs at least a telephone number provided by the entity;
• a verification component associated with the input component wherein the verification component verifies the validity of the telephone number;
• and
• a display component that displays to the sales person the result of the verification of the validity of the telephone number to the sales person.