DE10237474A1 - Fraud prevention for e.g. automatic vending- or service machines, totals coin or banknote types and suspends machine operation if results are suspicious - Google Patents

Abstract

For each payment, up to reaching the required credit state (K) for payment, the type of coin or bank note used is determined. The numbers of each type of coin or note are added up by counters. Should a given threshold criterion be reached, a signal (F) is generated. The signal is sent to a logic circuit, activating a timer (T) preventing automat operation for an interval (Taus).

Description

The invention relates to a method to prevent fraud for coin or banknote operated Automatic machines, in particular goods or service machines, at which the sales process after inserting coins and / or entering banknotes triggered after reaching a sufficient loan amount or the service available is provided.

For coin and or banknote-operated vending machines is usually after entering the means of payment triggered a goods issue process, whereby before triggering of the goods issue process in a test facility on the means of payment Authenticity checked become. It also applies to cash entered in pieces the total value of the entered means of payment is determined and the goods issue process only triggered if the total value corresponds to the value of the goods to be issued.

Known test facilities determine in general counterfeit money with large Security if they are set accordingly sensitive. Depending on the sensitivity set, it either happens that also valid in itself Means of payment are rejected or that incorrect means of payment be recognized as real.

In the past it has been found that in fraudulent Intentional counterfeits that come very close to real means of payment are used only by extremely sensitive test equipment can be determined. The then means that usually test facilities used must be replaced by new, extremely sensitive adjustable test equipment, whereby a big Rejection rate of valid means of payment must be accepted.

It has been found that when attempting fraud with fake Means of payment is usually a means of payment of a particular Value is used again and again. One can therefore assume that there is an attempt to defraud if there is always for successive payment transactions Means of payment of the same value can be used.

Furthermore, it can be assumed that there is also an attempt to defraud if certain Coin or Banknote values in an excessive (abnormal) frequency be used.

The object of the invention is to attempt fraud at coin or banknote operated Automatic machines, in particular goods or service machines, by fake Means of payment used in successive sales or payment transactions will recognize, initiate damage-limiting measures, and thus to make the operation of such vending machines safer.

This object is achieved according to the invention solved, that the coin or banknote denomination, d. H. the payment method for every payment transaction is determined, whereby it is determined which payment methods or denomination types until a loan was entered that the payment methods were entered or denomination types in numerator counters be added up when a predetermined limit criterion is reached a signal is generated and that the signal is a logic circuit forwarded and a timer is activated that the operation of the Vending machine for prevented a period of time.

Advantageous embodiments of the Invention are in the claims 2–3 specified.

Another solution to the problem is that the coin or banknote denomination, d. H. the payment method for each payment transaction is determined, it being determined which coin or Banknote types were entered until a loan was reached that the frequency with which it is determined with several sales transactions similar coins or banknotes were entered that when reaching a predetermined Limit criterion a signal is generated, and that the signal is a Logic circuit fed and a timer is activated that the Operation of the machine for prevented a period of time.

Further advantageous configurations of the invention are in the claims 5-15 indicated.

The advantages achieved with the invention consist in particular in that by determining the payment method, d. H. recognizing which coin or banknote denomination for one Sales process were used, or which coin or banknote values used excessively it is deduced that there has been an attempt to defraud. Consequently can then anti-fraud measures be initiated.

These measures may consist of the first Vending machine or the acceptance of payment for a certain period of time Operation is set that a camera is activated that the user The vending machine photographed that an "emergency call" to the caregiver the vending machine is triggered by radio or GSM / telephone.

The invention is described in more detail below:
In order to obtain a desired product from the vending machine, the user generally first selects the product and then coins or banknotes (means of payment) are entered into the vending machine. The entered means of payment are checked for validity in a coin or banknote validator. Are the number If the funds are recognized as valid, their individual values are summed up in order to recognize whether the purchase price credit K (purchase price) for the selected goods has been reached.

In addition, the payment method, i.e. H. the combination of the denominations of coins and / or banknotes used until the credit K is reached. These payment methods will be in numerator counters Z added up, so that you can see which payment methods were used. The payment method is e.g. understood: input of three 1 EUR coins, or Enter two 1 EUR coins and two 50 cent coins until reaching a loan.

It is determined whether the current Payment method differs from the last used payment method.

Corresponds to the current payment method The last payment method used is a payment counter Z for each of the same type Payment transaction (sales transaction) increased by 1.

If a payment method is used, which differs from the previous payment method, the counter remains open for the time being the last value to indicate an interrupted attempt to defraud filter out.

As long as the payment counter has an initial value that is below a presettable limit value Z _x , the sales process is triggered when the purchase price of the selected goods is reached and the goods selected by the user are output.

As soon as the payment counter reaches a preset value Z _x , it can be assumed that there are fraudulent payment transactions.

For example, if the same payment method was used five times in succession, it can be assumed that there has been an attempt to defraud. A fraud can also be assumed if e.g. B. the predetermined limit of coin selection of a coin M _{imax is} reached in the last 10 sales.

The output values Z _{x of} the counter numerator Z are therefore compared with a limit criterion (in the example with the value five) and an error signal F is generated when the limit criterion is reached. It is preferably provided that the limit criterion can be set by the machine operator.

Then an error signal F is generated that triggers the termination of the sales process.

For this purpose, the error signal F (detected fraud attempt) is sent to an evaluation logic. The evaluation logic now triggers different processes: First, a timer T is activated, which sets the cash acceptance of the vending machine for a certain period T _from out of operation, so that no further fraud attempts can be made. It can be provided that only the acceptance of the means of payment with the value with which the attempt at fraud was made is prevented. It can preferably be provided that the time T _out for which the acceptance of the means of payment is prevented can be set. After the time T _off the counter Z (sales transaction counter) is reset to 0.

It may also be provided that that the timing element T has an incremental function, wherein the time for successive error signals (attempted fraud) extended each time the machine is completely shut down after n attempts to defraud Operation is set.

The timing element T may also have a time function SF ₍₎ , the course (duration, type) of which can be parameterized.

It can be provided that the Evaluation logic in the event of an error (detected fraud attempt) an alarm siren activated.

It can also be provided that the evaluation logic is a photographic medium, preferably a Digital camera, activated so that the user is photographed.

It can also be provided that the evaluation logic triggers an emergency message that is sent by radio or GSM / telephone a fault location, possibly forwarded to a machine operator.

In a further embodiment of the Invention can be provided that the counter of payment it is evaluated that it is determined at what frequency like coins or banknotes for the payment transactions were used. exceeds the frequency a given limit criterion, we also get an error signal F generated and the operation of the machine prevented as described above.

In a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the time T _{V is} measured between two successive sales processes. At very short times, ie immediately successive sales transactions, one can assume that there has been an attempt to defraud. The time T _V is therefore compared with a predetermined limit value T _VV and if T _{V is} below this limit value, the error signal F is generated and the operation of the machine is prevented as described above.

It can be provided that the sum T _vs the times TV is determined for several successive sales processes and compared with a limit value (T _limit ) _n ).

If the sum T _{vs is} below this limit value, the error signal F is generated and the operation of the machine is prevented as described above.

The limit values (times T _vv and / or (T _limit ) _n ) can preferably be set by the machine operator (installation). However, it can also be provided that the maximum limit values are determined dynamically and independently. For this purpose, the times T _V are then considered for a number of sales transactions and an average “normal time” is determined. A surcharge value ΔM, ΔT is added to this value and the resulting value is used as the target limit value M _{i max} or T _limit . there M _{i max means} the maximum number of coins M of each individual denomination within the last payment transactions considered as sliding and T _limit the permitted sum of the pause times (T _vs ) between the last sales transactions.

Usually the machines are provided with a return button, whereby it is possible the previously entered coin or return the banknote amount Let, not always the originally entered coins or Returned banknotes but the equivalent value from a separate storage is paid out. To prevent "invalid" means of payment be entered and then valid means of payment using the return key get back can be provided that the number of successive back operations determined, counted becomes. exceeds the number determined is a normal number Limit value, which in turn preferably by the machine operator / installation is adjustable, the error signal F is generated and the operation of the machine as described above.

The sequence of the procedure described above is exemplary in three flowcharts, with the program flowcharts corresponding Executed according to DIN 66001 are shown and will be explained in more detail below. It shows: diagram 1 is a flow chart for the entire process, diagram 2 is a flow chart for the process the coin check, and Diagram 3 is a flow chart for the process of checking the times.

Diagram 1 shows the entire process the procedure to prevent misuse of coin or banknote operated Vending machine shown.

With the starting point FD 1.0 is the functionality of the device given. After inserting any coins or banknotes, this is the first Checked reaching the necessary credit.

If the credit is reached, the Pause between the end of the last and the beginning of the next number- or credit process determined and with a slidingly determined Value resulting from a number of numerous sales transactions had compared.

Then the coins are in their thrown frequency and their valence within the last one considered Payment transactions checked.

There remains the one determined in the branch Pause time within the framework of the slidingly calculated values between two Sales transactions, and at the same time it is determined that the sum of the coins of the same valences is less than a predetermined value, so will release the sale.

When determining the break times between the sales less than a predetermined limit, which is the moving sum break times result, an attempt to defraud is derived and blocking the machine via a caused certain time.

Likewise, when determining that the number of identical coins exceeds a certain predetermined value is also a fraud attempt is derived, which leads to the machine being blocked via a time leads.

After the blocking period has expired, the Automat again automatically put into operation.

The test sequence is in diagram 2 the procedure for determining the frequency of the same coins inserted shown.

With the starting point FD 1.0 is the functionality of the device given. After inserting any coins or banknotes, this is the first Checked reaching the necessary credit.

Then it is checked which type of coin has been inserted and how often subsequently whether the maximum number of coins each value lies within the last payment transactions considered in a sliding manner.

Is the maximum specified number coins equal value exceeded an attempt to defraud is assumed and z. B. a time-dependent blocking of the machine initiated - otherwise the chosen one Goods issued.

The test sequence is in diagram 3 the procedure for the determination of the permitted break times between the break times of the last sales transactions shown.

With the starting point FD 1.0 is the functionality of the device given. After inserting any coins or banknotes, this is the first Checked reaching the necessary credit.

Then the break time between the current and previous credit process and into the already saved, calculated as moving sum over a certain number of break times added and with the maximum preset, permitted limit value compared.

A specific one is used Number of pause times as summed in a shift register, and when determining a new break time, the first measured break time rejected (first in - first out).

Will the current sales process times significantly shortened over several sales measured, a fraud attempt is derived from it and z. B. a time-dependent Blocking of the machine initiated - otherwise the selected goods output.

After the blocking period has expired, the Automat again automatically put into operation.

K

Credit, The amount entered corresponds to the value of the goods

(Sales price)

Z

Zahlartzähler

Z _X

output value of the paying doctor counter

F

Signal, error signal

T _off

time the blocking

T _V

time between successive sales transactions

(between the achievement of credit from transaction 1 and the

objection of coins in process 2, etc.)

T _VV

standard time for each other following sales transactions

A _V

number of sales transactions

Z

timer

SF ₍₎

time function of the timer Z

T _VS

Sum of times T _{V of} several successive ver

purchase operations

(T _limit ) _n

limit

(Target value) for the total time of the sales transactions T _vs

M _{i max}

maximum Limit of a coin / banknote type or

valence

Δ M

aggregate value the number of one coin / banknote type

Δ T

Surcharge value at total time ΣT _V

Claims (15)

Fraud prevention method for coin-operated or banknote-operated machines, in particular goods or service machines, in which the sales process is triggered after the insertion of coins and / or the entry of banknotes after reaching a sufficient credit amount or the service is provided, characterized in that the Coin or banknote denomination, i.e. the payment type is determined for each payment transaction, whereby it is determined which payment types or denomination types have been entered until a credit (K) has been reached, that the payment types or denomination types are added up in payment type counters (Z), that at If a predetermined limit criterion is reached, a signal (F) is generated, and the signal (F) is fed to a logic circuit and a timer (T) is activated which prevents the machine _from operating for a period of time (T _off ). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the output value (Z _x ) of the counter counter, at which the signal (F) is generated, is adjustable. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for successive payment transactions with different denomination, d. H. reset the payment counter (Z) with different payment methods becomes. Fraud prevention method for coin-operated or banknote-operated machines, in particular goods or service machines, in which the sales process is triggered after the insertion of coins and / or the entry of banknotes after reaching a sufficient credit amount or the service is provided, characterized in that the Coin or banknote denomination, i.e. the payment method is determined for each payment transaction, it being determined which coin or banknote types have been entered until a credit (K) has been reached, and the frequency with which coins or banknotes of the same type have been entered in several sales transactions that a signal (F) is generated when a predetermined limit criterion is reached, and that the signal (F) is fed to a logic circuit and a timer (T) is activated which prevents the machine _from operating for a period of time (T _off ). A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the timer (T) has a time function (SF ₍₎ ), the course (duration, manner) can be parameterized. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the logic circuit, ie the timer (T) acts on a coin or banknote validator in such a way that the acceptance of coins or banknotes of this value is prevented for a period of time (T _off ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the time period (T _off ) of the timer (T) is adjustable. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the time duration (T _off ) of the timing element (T) has an incremental function, the time being extended in each case in the case of successive fraud attempts. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the time (T _V ) between two successive sales transactions is measured, and that when falling below a predetermined time (T _VV ) for one or a predetermined number (A _V ) of sales transactions (ΣT _V ), a signal (F) is generated, which prevents the operation and then the sales for a period (T _off ). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the times (T _V ) between two successive sales processes are measured, that in the case of several successive sales processes their sum (T _vs ) is determined, that the time (T _vs ) with a limit value ((TG _limit ) _n ) is compared, and that if this limit value is undershot, a signal (F) is generated which prevents operation and then sales for a period of time (thousand). A method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the time (T _VV ) and / or ((T _limit ) _n ) is adjustable. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the maximum limit values (M _{i max} ) and (T _limit ) are determined dynamically and independently via a number (A _V ) of sales transactions under consideration and via a surcharge value (ΔM, ΔT) the future limit setpoint is determined. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of returns triggered over several successive sales transactions are determined, and that the error signal when a preset limit value is reached (F) is generated. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that a circuit arrangement is activated by the signal (F) , by which an emergency call / fault report by radio or GSM / phone is triggered. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the signal (F) is a photographic medium, preferably a digital camera that is activated by the user of the vending machine is registered.