System and method for depicting on-line transactions

A method of visually depicting a set of on-line transactions, conducted in an on-line system for transferring value between users, to facilitate the detection of fraud in the transactions, the method comprising:

• selecting a first on-line transaction involving a transfer of a first amount from a first transferor account to a first transferee account;
• identifying a source of said first amount;
• identifying a destination of said first amount;
• selecting multiple related transactions, including said first transaction, wherein the related transactions include one or more of:
• a previous transaction involving a transfer of value to said first transferor account from an account other than said first transferor and said first transferee;
• and
• a subsequent transaction involving a transfer of value from said first transferee account to an account other than said first transferor and said first transferee;
• generating a first visual representation of the related transactions;
• comparing said first visual representation to one or more visual representations indicative of fraud;
• and
• if said first visual representation is indicative of fraud, preventing one or more of the related transactions from completing.

A method of facilitating detection of fraud in a set of on-line transactions, the method comprising:

• selecting a suspect on-line transaction based on a parameter of said suspect transaction, wherein said suspect transaction includes a transfer of value from a first entity to a second entity and is suspected of involving fraud;
• tracing the flow of said value to identify a first set of transactions related to said suspect transaction, the first set of transactions including one or more of:
• a sequence of transactions involving at least one transfer of value to the first entity from an entity other than the first entity and the second entity;
• and
• a sequence of transactions involving at least one transfer of value from the second entity to an entity other than the first entity and the second entity;
• generating a graphical depiction of said suspect transaction and said first set of related transactions to:
• indicate relative time periods during which said suspect transaction and each transaction in said first set of related transactions was initiated;
• indicate a type of entity receiving the value of said suspect transaction and each transaction in said first set of related transactions;
• indicate a magnitude of value of said suspect transaction and each transaction in said first set of related transactions;
• and
• indicate whether any of said values of said suspect transaction and said first set of related transactions are routed toward a common destination for withdrawal;
• and
• comparing said depiction of said suspect transaction and said first set of related transactions to depictions of likely fraud.

A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of depicting value-transfer transactions within a system for transferring value between users of the system, the method comprising:

• receiving from a first user a first pending value-transfer transaction to transfer value from the first user to a second user;
• graphically depicting one or more parameters of said first pending transaction;
• graphically depicting a first entity representing the first user and a second entity representing the second user;
• graphically depicting a set of connected transactions, including said first pending transaction, wherein two transactions are connected if they involve a common user and a transfer of value between the common user and at least one other user;
• and
• analyzing the set of connected transactions to determine if one or more of the transactions constitute fraud.

An apparatus for facilitating the detection of fraud within a set of on-line transactions involving the transfer of value between multiple entities, the apparatus comprising:

• a first memory configured to store a set of transaction details concerning value transfers between multiple entities;
• a second memory configured to store a set of predetermined transaction criteria configured to identify a first transfer of value between a first entity and a second entity to be examined for fraudulent activity;
• a trace module configured to identify one or more of said multiple transfers related to said first transfer, wherein a second transfer is related to said first transfer if a series of value transfers can be traced between an entity involved in said second transfer and one or more of said first entity and said second entity;
• a third memory configured to store a set of characteristics indicative of a fraudulent transfer, said characteristics including one or more of:
• a maximum amount of a transfer, a network address of an initiator of a transfer, a geographical location of an initiator of a transfer, an age of an account of an initiator of a transfer, a number of successful transfers performed by an initiator of a transfer, and an amount of a transfer relative to a related transfer;
• and
• a display module configured to graphically depict said related transfers as a connected graph for analysis for suspected fraudulent activity.

A system for facilitating on-line transfers of value and graphically depicting related on-line value transfers to facilitate detection of fraud among the transfers, the system comprising:

• a database configured to store details of value transfers initiated on-line;
• a selection module configured to facilitate a selection of a first value transfer involving the transfer of a first value from a first entity to a second entity;
• a trace module configured to trace one or more of:
• an earlier series of value transfers ending with a transfer of value to the first entity from an entity other than the first entity and the second entity;
• and
• a later series of value transfers starting with a transfer of value from the second entity to an entity other than the first entity and the second entity;
• a depiction module configured to depict a sequence of value transfers, including said first value transfer and one or more of said earlier series of value transfers and said later series of value transfers;
• and
• an analyzer configured to compare said depiction of said sequence of value transfers to one or more patterns of fraudulent value transfers.

A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of facilitating detection of fraud in a set of on-line transactions, to facilitate the detection of fraud in the transactions, the method comprising:

• selecting a suspect on-line transaction based on a parameter of said suspect transaction, wherein said suspect transaction includes a transfer of value from a first entity to a second entity and is suspected of involving fraud;
• tracing the flow of said value to identify a first set of transactions related to said suspect transaction, the first set of transactions including one or more of:
• a sequence of transactions involving at least one transfer of value to the first entity from an entity other than the first entity and the second entity;
• and
• a sequence of transactions involving at least one transfer of value from the second entity to an entity other than the first entity and the second entity;
• generating a graphical depiction of said suspect transaction and said first set of related transactions to:
• indicate relative time periods during which said suspect transaction and each transaction in said first set of related transactions was initiated;
• indicate a type of entity receiving the value of said suspect transaction and each transaction in said first set of related transactions;
• indicate a magnitude of value of said suspect transaction and each transaction in said first set of related transactions;
• and
• indicate whether any of said values of said suspect transaction and said first set of related transactions are routed toward a common destination for withdrawal;
• and
• comparing said depiction of said suspect transaction and said first set of related transactions to depictions of likely fraud.

A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of visually depicting a set of on-line transactions, conducted in an on-line system for transferring value between users, to facilitate the detection of fraud in the transactions, the method comprising:

• selecting a first on-line transaction involving a transfer of a first amount from a first transferor account to a first transferee account;
• identifying a source of said first amount;
• identifying a destination of said first amount;
• selecting multiple related transactions, including said first transaction, wherein the related transactions include one or more of:
• a previous transaction involving a transfer of value to said first transferor account from an account other than said first transferor and said first transferee;
• and
• a subsequent transaction involving a transfer of value from said first transferee account to an account other than said first transferor and said first transferee;
• generating a first visual representation of the related transactions;
• comparing said first visual representation to one or more visual representations indicative of fraud;
• and
• if said first visual representation is indicative of fraud, preventing one or more of the related transactions from completing.