Method of operating an image-based self-service check depositing terminal to detect a duplicate check deposit

A method of operating an image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM) to detect a duplicate check deposit when an ATM customer at the ATM is conducting a check deposit transaction at the ATM, the method comprising:

• receiving from the ATM customer a check to be deposited at the ATM;
• electronically by an image capture device, capturing check image data which is representative of an image of the check received from the ATM customer at the ATM;
• electronically transmitting via a first communications network the check image data to a web service provider to allow the web service provider to determine if the check being deposited is a duplicate check;
• receiving from the web-based service provider a verification message indicating that the check being deposited at the ATM is either a duplicate check or not a duplicate check;
• and
• transmitting via a second communications network the check image data to a consolidation server when the verification message indicates that the check being deposited at the ATM is not a duplicate check.

A method of operating a web-based service provider to determine if a check being deposited at an automated teller machine (ATM) is a duplicate check, the method comprising:

• receiving check image data which is representative of an image of a check being deposited at the ATM;
• determining if the check image is representative of a duplicate check being deposited at the ATM;
• generating a first verification message to indicate that the check being deposited is a duplicate check when a determination is made that the check being deposited at the ATM is a duplicate check;
• generating a second verification message to indicate that the check being deposited is not a duplicate check when a determination is made that the check being deposited at the ATM is not a duplicate check;
• and
• electronically transmitting a generated verification message to the ATM at which the check is being deposited.