System and method for verifying a user's identity in electronic transactions

A system for verifying the identity of a user by a verifier during the course of an electronic transaction, said system comprising:

• a. a verifier-database (703);
• b. a verifier-computer (903), wherein said verifier-computer is adapted to write data to and retrieve data from said verifier-database;
• c. a first verifier communications device (2403) for receiving communications from the user and transmitting communications to the user, wherein said first verifier communications device is accessible to said verifier-computer;
• d. a user communications device (2303) for receiving communications from the verifier and transmitting communications to the verifier, wherein said user communications device is accessible to the user;
• e. an input/output (I/O) (503) device that accepts input from the user and displays output to the user;
• and,
• f. a user-computer (603) coupled to said user communication device and coupled to said I/O device, wherein said user-computer is adapted to:
• i) display on said I/O device an incoming identity verification request (IVR) sent to said user communications device by the verifier-computer through said verifier communications device;
• ii) acquire the user's input to said I/O device, wherein the user's input includes a putative secure identifier;
• and,
• iii) send a response to the IVR from said user communications device to said first verifier communications device,
• wherein at least one of said user-computer and said verifier-Computer is adapted to:
• iv) receive as a first input a bona fide secure identifier retrieved from said verifier-database;
• v) receive as a second input the putative secure identifier;
• and,
• vi) compare the first input with the second input;
• wherein the electronic transaction proceeds if the first input and second input match.

A user identity verification method for verifying the identity of a user by a verifier in the course of an electronic transaction, said user identity verification method comprising the steps of:

• (a) assigning a bona fide secure identifier to the user;
• (b) storing the bona fide secure identifier of Step (a) in a database that is accessible to the verifier;
• (c) storing a user access number for a user communications device in a database, wherein the database is accessible to the verifier, and wherein the user access number can be used to open a communications link with the user communications device;
• (d) retrieving the user access number stored at Step (c);
• (e) using the user access number retrieved at Step (d) to open a communications link between the verifier and the user communications device;
• (f) sending an identity verification request (IVR) from the verifier to the user through the communications link opened at Step (e);
• (g) inputting by the user a putative secure identifier;
• (h) receiving through the communications link opened at Step (e) a response to the IVR of Step (f);
• (j) retrieving the bona fide secure identifier stored at Step (b);
• and,
• (k) comparing the putative secure identifier input at Step (g) with the bona fide secure identifier retrieved at Step (j),
• wherein the transaction proceeds if the comparison of Step (k) results in a match between the putative secure identifier and the bona fide secure identifier.