USSD Request Verification via Subscriber Response Before Fulfillment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional USSD protocols lack proactive measures to prevent scammers from fraudulently accessing subscriber information by manipulating call and text-forwarding services via phishing links, with existing reactive solutions failing to stop fraudulent USSD requests from completion.
Innovation Solution
A proactive system where the USSD gateway sends a verification message to the subscriber, requiring a response to confirm the legitimacy of the request, and based on the response, determines whether to approve or terminate the request.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reactive solutions are used to monitor and detect fraudulent USSD requests, then detection capability is improved, but prevention effectiveness deteriorates because fraudulent requests can still complete before detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification actions before allowing USSD requests to complete. A verification message is sent to the subscriber's device prior to request fulfillment, and the device must respond with verification code(s) before the request is authorized. This preliminary action prevents fraudulent requests from completing while maintaining detection capability.
2Reliability
If verification messages are sent to subscribers via SMS, then request verification reliability is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional verification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary verification mechanism where SMS messages serve as the verification carrier. The verification server sends SMS messages containing verification codes to subscriber devices, and these codes are then validated against the USSD request. This intermediary approach improves verification reliability while keeping the process manageable through standardized SMS infrastructure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If proactive verification is implemented before request fulfillment, then prevention of fraudulent access is improved, but processing time increases due to additional verification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where verification responses from subscriber devices are processed and fed back into the request authorization decision. The verification server receives verification codes from the device, validates them against stored values, and uses this feedback to determine whether to approve or deny the USSD request. This feedback approach ensures thorough verification while optimizing processing through efficient validation logic.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for improved use of unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) by subscribers. A subscriber request via USSD is received. A verification message is sent to the subscriber. A subscriber response to the verification message is received. Whether the subscriber request is verified is determined based on the subscriber response. The subscriber request may be approved or terminated based on the determination. In verifying a subscriber USSD request by determining whether the subscriber response is verified prior to fulfillment of the subscriber request, a more secure network environment may result.