System and methods for validating and managing user identities

A method for validating and managing an at least one identity of an at least one user, the method comprising the steps of:

• implementing a central computing system configured for receiving and processing data related to the at least one user and associated identity;
• using a computing device in communication with the computing system to set up a user account associated with a one of the at least one user, the user account containing at least one of a unique account identifier, an identity score representing a quality rating of the user based on the at least one identity associated therewith, and an identity table containing at least one of an identity type, an identity source, an identity status, a validation status, an initial validation date, and a latest validation date;
• selectively validating the at least one identity;
• dynamically calculating the identity score associated with the at least one user,
• wherein for each identity contained in the identity table of the user account associated with the user:
• upon determining that said identity has been previously validated, adding a pre-determined amount of points to the identity score;
• upon determining that the initial validation date associated with said identity is sufficiently old, multiplying said points by a first pre-determined bonus multiplier;
• and
• upon determining that the latest validation date associated with said identity is sufficiently recent, multiplying said points by a second pre-determined bonus multiplier;
• whereby, the higher the identity score is for a given user, the more the at least one identity associated with that user can be trusted by other users.

A method for validating and managing an at least one identity of an at least one user, the method comprising the steps of:

• implementing a central computing system configured for receiving and processing data related to the at least one user and associated identity;
• using a computing device in communication with the computing system to set up a user account associated with a one of the at least one user, the user account containing an identity table containing the at least one identity;
• and
• upon a first user desiring to send an email to an identity associated with a further user:
• allowing the first user to specify the identity associated with the further user to which the email is to be sent;
• upon determining that the identity associated with the further user currently resides in an identity table of a user account:
• upon determining that the identity is an email address, sending the email to said identity;
• upon determining that the identity is not an email address:
• checking the identity table associated with the further user for any alternate identities that are email addresses;
• upon locating at least one alternate identity that is an email address, sending the email to said at least one alternate identity;
• and
• upon locating no alternate identities that are email addresses, sending a message to said identity to notify the associated further user about the email from the first user and inviting the further user to add an email address identity to the associated user account;
• and
• upon determining that the identity associated with the further user does not currently reside in an identity table of a user account:
• sending a message to said identity to notify the associated further user about the email from the first user and inviting the further user to set up a user account.