Method of and system for electronic funds transfer via facsimile with image processing verification

摘要

In a system for carrying out financial transactions via facsimile machines, account customized transaction vouchers are completed by at least one party to a transaction. The transaction vouchers issued to that party contain thereon in bar code format a series of pseudo random alphanumeric characters with a different set of characters on each voucher. The party transmits by facsimile an image of the completed voucher to a facsimile machine at a central facility. A character reader at the central facility reads the incoming data and authorizes the requested transaction based on the pseudo random alphanumeric set of characters on the voucher when confirmed by a comparison to a list of pseudo random alphanumeric sets of characters in the account record of that party. Used sets of alphanumeric characters are deleted from the list in the account data to permit onetime usage of a voucher. A credit voucher is sent from the central facility to a facsimile machine at the site of the other party to the transaction. This voucher includes a pseudo random alphanumeric set of characters selected from a second list of such characters in the account information of said second party in the central facility. The voucher contains a signature field with a background comprising a repetition of the string of the pseudo-random alphanumeric characters used to identify the voucher as a means to detect unauthorized photocopying of a signature and affixing the same to the signature field on the document.