Method and system for use of biometrics in consumer credit bureau identity matching

Abstract

The present invention is the method and system of using biometrics in consumer credit bureau identity matching. The matching function connects a cryptographic template (CT) to a record of information that we call a consumer credit bureau. This invention ensures accuracy and validity of the matching and results in accurate data transaction processing. An advantage of the present invention is the use of CTs as a part of the consumer reporting match process. Introducing the use of biometrics shifts the reliance on traditional personally identifiable information (PII) to attributes that are a physical / integral part of the person. This moves us away from relying on data elements that are not attached to a person and results in improved accuracy of matching. The improved accuracy of matching serves to decrease loss due to failed or fraudulent transactions.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: Method and System for Use of Biometrics in Consumer Credit Bureau Identity MatchingBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTechnical Field£0001] This invention relates generally to a credit bureau financial transaction system and method.

[0002] This invention relates more particularly to a method and system for a credit bureau financial transaction matching system to ensure accuracy and validity of the match and resulting accurate data transaction processing.

[0003] This invention relates more particularly to a method and system for a credit bureau biometric financial transaction matching system to ensure accuracy and validity of the match and resulting accurate data transaction processing.Background Art

[0004] After decades of biometrics being used commercially for authentication in all sorts of scenarios, there has been thus far no mention of its use in credit bureaus. The present invention proposes a better system and method of matching for credit bureaus with the use of biometric data provided by a person to do the match to the credit bureau records and histories for a person with a matching function to connect a cryptographic template (CT) to a record of information from a consumer credit bureau.

[0005] Biometrics as a method of authentication for consumers and businesses is broadly used as an authentication piece of a financial transaction with a credit bureau. Once someone is authenticated, that is where the process for the present invention starts. Currently, all of these processes that use biometrics for authentication have accompanying personally identifiable information (PII) that the consumer provides. What the credit bureaus do to pull the credit bureau records and histories for a person is fall back on using the PII provided to match the person to the credit bureau’s records and histories for that person.

[0006] There is actually no connection between the biometric authentication action and what happens next. The process accepts the authentication flag as a “yes" and the age-old PII process starts and is used to create the match.

[0007] In light of the foregoing prior art, there is a need for a method and system to better use the biometric data provided by a person to do the match to the credit bureau records and histories for a person with a matching function to connect a cryptographic template to a record of information from a consumer credit bureau as in the present invention.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The core part of the process is not authorizing a person, the core function of the invention is to use a presented cryptographic template (CT) to perform a match to a credit bureau’s records for a person. The person lies outside this invention. The present invention is receiving a CT through some means and using that to match a CT connected to a consumer credit report.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, there is a method of using of biometrics as a matching media to connect a person to a credit report comprising creating a biometric representation of saidperson in the form of a cryptographic template (CT), anonymously creating a public key and a private key pair as a reference to said CT, using a matching function to connect said CT to a record of information at a consumer credit bureau, thus enabling said person to present said biometric representation to be matched and / or enabling a business to send said public key for a match to occur.

[0010] In an alternate embodiment, there is a method of using of biometrics as a matching media to connect a person to a credit report wherein said biometric representation is acquired by said person presenting said biometric representation.

[0011] In an alternate embodiment, there is a method of using of biometrics as a matching media to connect a person to a credit report wherein said biometric representation is acquired by a device presenting said biometric representation.

[0012] In an alternate embodiment, there is a method of using of biometrics as a matching media to connect a person to a credit report wherein said biometric representation is acquired by an organization already in possession of said biometric representation presenting said biometric representation.

[0013] An advantage of the system and method of the present invention is the use of the biometric data provided by a person to match to the credit bureau records and histories for a person using a matching function to connect a CT to a record of information from a consumer credit bureau. This system and method offers improved accuracy of the transactions resulting in less loss of financial responsibility.

[0014] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a flowchart of the current use of PII in B2B Batch Consumer Credit Bureau Identity Matching according to the invention;

[0016] Figure 2 is a flowchart of the use of PII and / or CT and / or public key in B2B Batch Consumer Credit Bureau Identity Matching according to the invention;

[0017] Figure 3 is a flowchart of the use of CT and / or public key in B2B Batch Consumer Credit Bureau Identity Matching according to the invention;

[0018] Figure 4 is a flowchart of the use of PII in Real-Time Consumer Credit Bureau Identity Matching according to the invention;

[0019] Figure 5 is a flowchart of the use of PII and / or CT and / or public key in Real-Time Consumer Credit Bureau Identity Matching according to the invention; and

[0020] Figure 6 is a flowchart of the use of CT and / or public key in Real-Time Consumer Credit Bureau Identity Matching according to the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and use the invention.

[0022] References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment," etcetera, indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature,structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0023] Furthermore, it should be understood that spatial descriptions (e.g., “above,” “below,” “up,” “left,” “right,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” etc.) used herein are for purposes of illustration only, and that practical implementations of the structures described herein can be spatially arranged in any orientation or manner.

[0024] Fhroughout this specification, the word “comprise," or variations thereof such as "comprises" or “comprising," will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

[0025] Throughout this specification, the word “batch” will be understood to mean a process which typically has the structure of sending a file, and then receiving a file with a series of discrete steps in between. The process is not considered integrated between two organizations because that requires some kind of a real-time connection such as an application programming interface (API).

[0026] Throughout this specification, the phrase “biometric cryptographic template” (Bio-CT) will be understood to mean a mathematical representation of a biometric authenticator including but not limited to voice, fingerprint, face, retina, vein topography, and DNA.

[0027] Throughout this specification, the phrase “business requesting credit bureau” will be understood to mean businesses with a regulatory right to request a credit bureau. These could be, but are not limited to, credit agencies, credit bureaus, banks, healthcare providers, insurance companies, telecommunications companies, skip trace companies, identity protection companies, and collections agencies.

[0028] Throughout this specification, the word “consumer" will be understood to mean a person performing an activity that requires access to their credit bureau information.

[0029] Throughout this specification, the phrase “consumer credit bureau” (CCB) will be understood to mean attributes that make up a consumer credit bureau including, but not limited to, PII, non-PII, tradeline data (aggregated, modeled, or raw), non-credit alternative data, statistical models, scores, and all other data that is acquired / tracked used to make approve, decline, and eligibility decisions. A consumer credit bureau may also be called a consumer reporting agency, credit bureau, or bureau.

[0030] Throughout this specification, the phrase “cryptographic template” (CT) will be understood to mean a mathematical representation of a biometric. It may be in the form of binary data or some other mathematical form. An algorithm is used to derive the template.

[0031] Throughout this specification, the phrase “designated agent" will be understood to mean a person or process that is granted permission by a consumer to pull their credit bureau information or an organization given that right by regulation.

[0032] Throughout this specification, the phrase “digital channel” will be understood to mean any channel a consumer uses that involves a graphical user interface to accomplish a task. Such as a place that requires information be pulled from the consumer’s credit bureau. Examplesinclude when a consumer is completing an application for a credit product, an insurance policy, a renters agreement, a leasing agreement, or to access and view their own credit bureau. The channel through which the task of doing those things is digital by nature (via computer or cell phone).

[0033] Throughout this specification, the phrase “personally identifiable information" (PII) will be understood to mean, including but not limited to, the name, address, Social Security Number, date of birth, email, phone number, generational code of an individual.

[0034] Throughout this specification, the phrase “public key” and “private key” will be understood to mean an anonymized key used to reference a specific cryptographic template. Public keys can be kept by organizations external to the CCBs and can be sent to them to acquire a consumer credit report. The private key is used internally.

[0035] Throughout this specification, the phrase “real-time” will be understood to mean the process at hand is considered live meaning it is turned on and actions occur on a near-real time basis. The only time the process is turned off is for upgrades, maintenance, or a fatal event occurred where the process is no longer running. Real-time processes are considered to be integrated between two organizations because there is a constant conversation going on in the process between the two entities.

[0036] Element 100 which is B2B batch processing using PII only.

[0037] Element 105 which is the start of a matching process using personally identifiable information (PII) to locate a specific person’s credit bureau report for batch processing.

[0038] Element 110 which is a business requesting credit bureau matching from a consumer credit bureau via a digital (electronic) gateway for batch processing.

[0039] Element 120 which is matching request by submitting PII for batch processing.

[0040] Element 130 which is a PII file received by a consumer credit bureau for batch processing.

[0041] Element 140 which is a digital (electronic) gateway for matching requests connected to a consumer credit bureau for batch processing.

[0042] Element 150 which is PII match rules to match submitted PII and locate the correct credit bureau report for batch processing.

[0043] Element 160 which is a consumer credit bureau database with matching using PII that is a persisting vault of identifying data for batch processing.

[0044] Element 170 which is a consumer credit bureau database for matching people with PII that is updated monthly via accounting systems of record and sent by certified, trusted source to the business requesting credit bureau matching for batch processing.

[0045] Element 200 which is B2B batch processing using PII and / or CT and / or public key.

[0046] Element 205 which is the start of a matching process using PII and / or CT and / or public key to locate a specific person’s credit bureau report for batch processing.

[0047] Element 210 which is matching request by submitting PII and / or public key for batch processing.

[0048] Element 220 which is a PII and / or public key file received by a consumer credit bureau for batch processing.

[0049] Element 230 which is a public key merge for batch processing.

[0050] Element 240 which is a consumer credit bureau database with matching using PII and / orCT and / or public key that is a persisting vault of identifying data for batch processing.

[0051] Element 250 which is a consumer credit bureau database for matching people with private keys and / or PII that is updated monthly via accounting systems of record and sent by certified, trusted source to the business requesting credit bureau matching for batch processing.

[0052] Element 300 which is B2B batch processing using CT and / or public key only.

[0053] Element 305 which is the start of a matching process using CT and / or public key to locate a specific person’s credit bureau report for batch processing.

[0054] Element 310 which is matching request by submitting public key for batch processing.

[0055] Element 320 which is a public key file received by a consumer credit bureau for batch processing.

[0056] Element 330 which is a consumer credit bureau database for matching people with private keys that is updated monthly via accounting systems of record and sent by certified, trusted source to the business requesting credit bureau matching for batch processing.

[0057] Element 400 which is real-time processing using PII only.

[0058] Element 405 which is the start of a matching process using personally identifiable information (PII) to locate a specific person’s credit bureau report for real-time processing.

[0059] Element 410 which is a business requesting credit bureau matching from a consumer credit bureau via a digital (electronic) gateway for real-time processing.

[0060] Element 420 which is matching request by submitting PII for real-time processing.

[0061] Element 430 which is a PII file received by a consumer credit bureau for real-time processing.

[0062] Element 440 which is a digital (electronic) gateway for matching requests connected to a consumer credit bureau for real-time processing.

[0063] Element 450 which is PII match rules to match submitted PII and locate the correct credit bureau report for real-time processing.

[0064] Element 460 which is a consumer credit bureau database with matching using PII that is a persisting vault of identifying data for real-time processing.

[0065] Element 470 which is a consumer credit bureau database for matching people with PII that is updated monthly via accounting systems of record and sent by certified, trusted source to the business requesting credit bureau matching for real-time processing.

[0066] Element 500 which is real-time processing using PII and / or CT and / or public key.

[0067] Element 505 which is the start of a matching process using PII and / or CT and / or public key to locate a specific person’s credit bureau report for real-time processing.

[0068] Element 510 which is matching request by submitting PII and / or public key for real-time processing.

[0069] Element 520 which is a PII and / or public key file received by a consumer credit bureau for real-time processing.

[0070] Element 530 which is a public key merge for real-time processing.

[0071] Element 540 which is a consumer credit bureau database with matching using PII and / or CT and / or public key that is a persisting vault of identifying data for real-time processing.

[0072] Element 550 which is a consumer credit bureau database for matching people with private keys and / or PII that is updated monthly via accounting systems of record and sent by certified, trusted source to the business requesting credit bureau matching for real-time processing.

[0073] Element 600 which is real-time processing using CT and / or public key only.

[0074] Element 605 which is the start of a matching process using CT and / or public key to locate a specific person’s credit bureau report for real-time processing.

[0075] Element 610 which is matching request by submitting public key for real-time processing.

[0076] Element 620 which is a public key file received by a consumer credit bureau for real-time processing.

[0077] Element 630 which is a consumer credit bureau database for matching people with private keys that is updated monthly via accounting systems of record and sent by certified, trusted source to the business requesting credit bureau matching for real-time processing.

[0078] Element 700 which are 6 channels through which cryptographic templates are acquired in batch and real-time processing:

[0079] 1. User Allows CT Sharing of Device: A flag travels with the call that stipulates if biometrics was used to authenticate. If so, consumer prompted with request to share CT. CT travels with PII already entered and identity is established with CT appended. Device can be a laptop, desktop, cellphone or any other device that has the ability to authenticate biometrically.

[0080] 2. Bureau-initiated Products: When a bureau initiates a product offering driving the consumer into a product application channel, biometric authentication can be requested to acquire CT.

[0081] 3. Underwriting Application via CCB Software: When a consumer requests a product requiring credit-bureau processing, at the point of authentication, the request for the biometric CT can be presented. Once accepted, the CT can be stored alongside PII in the Vault.

[0082] 4. Consumer Credit Bureau Account Holder: As part of login, can offer biometric authentication where CT sharing request can be triggered. If allowed, the CT can be acquired and stored with consumer PII.

[0083] 5. Create a Central Democratized Repository: Stand up an entity capturing all consumer CT’s where public keys are offered to certified merchants.

[0084] 6. Blockchain via Consumer-Accepted Sharing of CT Public Key: Consumer managed authentication enablement by sharing a public key to selected merchants for consumer commercial transactions.

[0085] The goal of the consumer credit bureau is to have a CT for every person in the credit universe. There are two ways to acquire the CT: either through someone presenting their biometric (as stated above then creating it) or the CT being given to the credit bureau from some device or organization already possessing the CT.

[0086] Organizations keeping consumer records that include regular updating and require use of personally identifiable information (PII) to connect the consumer to their consumer record are the target for this process improvement. The focus is on the CCBs of Experian, Equifax, Trans Union, and Innovis. However, other credit bureaus, such as the international or non-domestic ones.

[0087] The current CCB process to pull a credit bureau utilizes PII including primarily name, address, social security number, and supplemental attributes including but not limited to date of birth, generational tags, and e-mail address. Matching rules exist to evaluate these data elements as a whole to determine a person’s identity. The next step is attaching that identity to an existingcredit bureau or create a new credit bureau. While this process is effective, it suffers 4 material flaws:

[0088] 1. The nature of PII is problematic driving false positive match results, false negative match results, or fragmented identities where there is not enough confidence to call a person's identity complete for use in connecting to a consumer report. Two of the most predictive matching elements are name and address. Both of those drive mis-matches or no-matches due to:

[0089] a) Wide variation in the structure of the name and address fields. For names, first, middle, and last names can have 2+ parts to them. This is seen frequently in certain countries. Systems of accounting of record that retain this information for identification purposes often do not accommodate very long names or names with more than the traditional first, middle, and last. They also have byte limits that will truncate certain names and addresses. For addresses, the same issue occurs where there are non-traditional structures and extended length causing mismatches and truncation.

[0090] b) Names and addresses change frequently due to moves and marital status changes. This creates a moving target scenario where consumer reporting agencies have to be sensitive to detect and accept changes in identity patterns for a consumer and update combinations of PII on a timely basis. The sheer amount of variation over time creates match risk and opportunity for old identities to quickly become obsolete for current processes needing them

[0091] 2. Each entity sending PII stores their PII differently. CCBs require data be standardized to consume PII in the same format. This means every entity must transform their resident data.This is another course of variation in field content and can drive mis-matches and no-matches.Even each credit bureau requests their own unique data and fde schemas which adds to process complexity driving potential error.

[0092] 3. Mismatches drive unintended member treatment which can drive regulatory violations. PII is also used to commit fraud.

[0093] 4. PII is not actually integral to a consumer’s identity. They are off-person attributes that surround a person. They are not a physical or integral part of the person.

[0094] Conclusion on Current Process: While CCB match rates are very high and they go to great lengths to produce correct outcomes, the nature of the data does not make 100% accuracy possible.

[0095] Proposed Change to Current Process: The enhanced process improvement proposes the introduction of biometrics as the key identifier of a person and their consumer record. Storing biometric representations of consumers in the form of CTs is used to identify an authorized person on a device. The collection and use of CTs is not part of the current consumer reporting match process. The use of biometrics shifts the reliance on traditional PII to attributes that are a physical and integral part of a person. The advantages of introducing this new information and process in CCB identity matching has the following advantages:

[0096] 1. Biometric CTs are significantly more stable. A person’s biometrics including, but not limited to: a voice, retina, face, and fingerprint will rarely change over the course of their lifetime and is not influenced by life changes such as marriage, divorce, or moving.

[0097] 2. Biometrics avoid risk of data transformation avoiding extensive data management.

[0098] 3. Anomalies in addresses and name structure and length are eliminated.

[0099] 4. Creating a CT to authenticate against an on-prem stored CT will significantly reduce or eliminate false positives, false negatives, or mis-matches.

[0100] 5. Potential for regulatory violations due to unintended and unpredictable outcomes is eliminated.

[0101] 6. The ability to “fake” a CT via fraud, similar to how PII is leveraged in the current process, is eliminated. This process does not propose to eliminate all forms of fraud, but using PII to drive fraud is addressed and eliminated because PII is not used.

[0102] 7. If a CT is compromised and acquired via a data breach or process exposure, the CT cannot be reverse-engineered to identify a person's biometric. It would require the acquisition of the forward-building algorithm that creates the mathematical representation to decipher what the CT is depicting as a person’s biometric.

[0103] This process is not proposing the 100% replacement of PII, because PII serves several core functions as part of managing a person’s identity and personal data. The enhanced process of introducing biometrics to perform matching between a person and their consumer report is playing the primary role in the identity matching process specifically. PII plays a secondary role when the CT is not present for a consumer. There is greater stability, higher accuracy, lower information risk, and reduced fraud.

[0104] The proposed invention introduces use of biometrics as the matching media to connect a person to their credit report. An algorithm creates biometric representations of consumers in the form of cryptographic templates. An anonymized public and private key is then created to reference that stored template. Depending on type of request, a person can present their biometric to be authorized and matched or a business requesting a credit bureau can send a public key tothe CCBs for a match to occur. The collection and use of CTs is not part of the consumer reporting match process. Introducing the use of biometrics shifts the reliance on traditional PII to attributes that are a physical / integral part of the person. This moves us away from relying on data elements that are not attached to a person.

[0105] Credit bureau Red Flags and other data management procedures still need to occur as well as being able to communicate with consumers. Specific to the act of creating a match, CCBs should be using items that are a physical part of the person to connect them to their credit bureau. PII will always play a secondary role when the CT is not present for a consumer and can also be used for a second level of validation, but the primary driver of establishing a match should be sourced from a physical part of the person. There is greater stability, higher accuracy, lower information risk, and reduced fraud.

[0106] Biometrics can be used to connect identifying information to a person’s consumer credit bureau in B2B batch & real-time scenarios. The goal is to have biometrics on 100% of consumers.

[0107] Batch Scenarios: A batch process is used to build marketing campaigns. These can be scheduled monthly processes or ad hoc initiated by credit bureau clients. This would apply to the “As Is,” “Combination,” and “To Be" processes.

[0108] There are several channels to acquire biometrics feeding repository of CTs:

[0109] Outbound: Request biometric(s) as part of campaign to acquire CTs;

[0110] Inbound: Request biometric from consumer-initiated transaction such as when consumer applies for credit, logs into or creating account at credit bureau, or allows sharing of CT(s) from device (computer, cell phone or any device housing a user’s CT(s));

[0111] Mass migration: Migration of biometrics from external repositories (other firms gathering and storing (e.g., financial institutions, identity protection firms, skip tracing firms);

[0112] Bureau-initiated product offerings: Credit bureaus partner with financial institutions as a channel through which those institutions can sell products when consumers go to their websites or selling as an outbound offer triggered by online search behavior and request CT(s) as part of process; and

[0113] Blockchain via costumer-accepted sharing of CT(s): Consumer-managed authentication enablement by sharing CT(s) to merchants enabling consumer to do business with them.

[0114] The initial biometric certification currently matches the consumer to the bureau with PII. To convert to biometric matching, bundles of data that combine PII and biometric CTs to confirm biometric(s) to that person will need to be used. This is a one-time event to convert to biometrics for matching consumer-to-bureau.

[0115] For biometric recertification, each biometric authentication and associated CT is saved. A delta algorithm tracks CTs with each authentication, and as the delta algorithm detects changes over time, recertification with new biometric is requested once statistical thresholds are breached. PII as a secondary source can be used to authenticate updated CT.

[0116] The present invention helps to better manage fraud. The public key is anonymous and if breached, there is no impact on consumer. The only data element exiting the credit bureau network is the anonymous public key. When one data type has confirmed fraud (PII or CTs), the other data type is “alerted” to block further fraud. When fraud is confirmed on PII, part of fraud protection services requests biometrics as primary method of authentication. Moving forward, eliminating PII as the source to commit fraud for that consumer makes fraud much more difficultto commit. Further, there is a split of function between public key and private key where the private key never leaves the network. Because the private key never leaves, the key is intermediary between the public key and CT which creates an additional layer of separation to get to the CT for fraud purposes (synthetic ID and account takeover).

[0117] In a first embodiment of the invention, there is a method of using of biometrics as a matching media to connect a person to a credit report comprising creating a biometric representation of said person in the form of a cryptographic template (CT), anonymously creating a public key and a private key pair as a reference to said CT, using a matching function to connect said CT to a record of information at a consumer credit bureau, thus enabling said person to present said biometric representation to be matched and / or enabling a business to send said public key for a match to occur.

[0118] When a business is requesting a credit bureau report: A public key, which is an anonymized value, is presented by a business requesting a credit bureau report. Internally, that public key is attached to the CT enabling the pull of the credit bureau report / records. The value and use of the public key prevents risk of personal biometric information being exposed in the event of a breach.

[0119] When a person is requesting a credit bureau report: The person presents their biometric and the credit bureau determines if they already have the matching CT. If so, a private and public key is generated that ties the person to their credit bureau report for future matching activities. This is a one-time event called CT certification. Since the person included PII (because there’s no CT) to begin with, the PII also travels and sits next to the CT in the event it is needed for other activities such as communications, flagging and other internal processes that arenot involved in the credit bureau match and pull itself. Currently, this cannot be done without creation and implementation of the present invention.

[0120] In a second embodiment of the invention, there is a method of using of biometrics as a matching media to connect a person to a credit report wherein said biometric representation is acquired by said person presenting said biometric representation.

[0121] In a third embodiment of the invention, there is a method of using of biometrics as a matching media to connect a person to a credit report wherein said biometric representation is acquired by a device presenting said biometric representation.

[0122] In a fourth embodiment of the invention, there is a method of using of biometrics as a matching media to connect a person to a credit report wherein said biometric representation is acquired by an organization already in possession of said biometric representation presenting said biometric representation.

[0123] An advantage of the present invention is the use of CTs as a part of the consumer reporting match process. Introducing the use of biometrics shifts the reliance on traditional PII to attributes that are a physical / integral part of the person. This moves us away from relying on data elements that are not attached to a person and resulting in improved accuracy of matching. The improved accuracy of matching serves to decrease loss due to failed or fraudulent transactions.

[0124] The invention has been described by way of examples only. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the claims.

[0125] Although the invention has been explained in relation to various embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of using of biometrics as a matching media to connect a person to a credit report comprising creating a biometric representation of said person in the form of a cryptographic template (CT), anonymously creating a public key and a private key pair as a reference to said CT, using a matching function to connect said CT to a record of information at a consumer credit bureau, thus enabling said person to present said biometric representation to be matched and / or enabling a business to send said public key for a match to occur.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said biometric representation is acquired by said person presenting said biometric representation.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said biometric representation is acquired by a device presenting said biometric representation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said biometric representation is acquired by an organization already in possession of said biometric representation presenting said biometric representation.

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