Using calling party number for caller authentication

1. A computer-implemented method of authenticating a call request, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by an authentication device, a call request and calling party information associated with the call request, the calling party information comprising a calling party number;

retrieving, by the authentication device, one or more parameters associated with the calling party number;

determining, by the authentication device, a risk threshold for the call request based at least in part on a line type of the calling party number or a reason for the call request;

determining, by the authentication device, a risk score for the call request based at least in part on the one or more parameters, the risk score indicating a confidence that the call request can be authenticated;

comparing, by the authentication device, the risk score to the risk threshold;

generating, by the authentication device, an authentication result based at least in part on the comparing, the authentication result indicating whether the calling party number is authenticated; and

sending, by the authentication device, the authentication result to a call processing device that processes the call request from the caller according to the authentication result, wherein the authentication result is sent to the call processing device before the call request is routed to a destination by the call processing device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

the comparing comprises determining that the risk score is less than the risk threshold; and

the generating comprises generating an authentication result that indicates the calling party number is authenticated responsive to determining that the risk score is less than the risk threshold.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

the comparing comprises determining that the risk score is greater than the risk threshold; and

the generating comprises generating an authentication result that indicates the calling party number is not authenticated responsive to determining that the risk score is greater than the risk threshold.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the authentication device, the risk threshold based at least in part on at least one of the one or more retrieved parameters, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a line type of the calling party number.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

the one or more retrieved parameters comprise fraud information associated with the calling party number; and

the determining comprises determining the risk score based at least in part on whether any fraud associated with the calling party number occurred within a threshold number of days.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises determining the risk score based at least in part on how many of the retrieved parameters meet corresponding thresholds used in authenticating the calling party number of the caller.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more retrieved parameters comprise one or more of a time of day, a frequency of calls, a velocity of calls, or a line type.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

tracking, by the authentication device, a number of accounts linked to the calling party number and fraud information associated with each of the linked accounts;

associating, by the authentication device, the authentication result with the calling party number;

determining, by the authentication device, an accuracy of the authentication result based at least in part on the fraud information and number of accounts; and

adjusting, by the authentication device, one or more thresholds corresponding to the retrieved parameters based at least in part on the accuracy of the authentication result.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein sending the authentication result to the call processing device comprises sending the authentication result as a visual or audio indication.

10. A system, comprising:

a memory for storing a plurality of parameters associated with a plurality of calling party numbers;

a processor coupled to the memory;

a communications interface that, when executing in the processor, receives a call request and calling party information associated with the call request, the calling party information comprising a calling party number, wherein the call request is initiated by a caller;

a calling number authenticator that, when executing in the processor:

retrieves one or more parameters associated with the calling party number;

determines a risk threshold for the call request based at least in part on a line type of the calling party number or a reason for the call request;

determines a risk score for the call request based at least in part on the one or more parameters, the risk score indicating a confidence that the call request can be authenticated;

compares the risk score to the risk threshold;

generates an authentication result based at least in part on the comparing, the authentication result indicating whether the calling party number is authenticated; and

sends the authentication result to a call processing device that processes the call request from the caller according to the authentication result, wherein the authentication result is sent to the call processing device before the call request is routed to a destination by the call processing device.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:

the comparing comprises determining that the risk score is less than the risk threshold; and

the generating comprises generating an authentication result that indicates the calling party number is authenticated responsive to determining that the risk score is less than the risk threshold.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein:

the comparing comprises determining that the risk score is greater than the risk threshold; and

the generating comprises generating an authentication result that indicates the calling party number is not authenticated responsive to determining that the risk score is greater than the risk threshold.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the calling number authenticator, when executing in the processor, determines the risk threshold based at least in part on at least one of the one or more retrieved parameters, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a line type of the calling party number.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein:

the one or more retrieved parameters comprise fraud information associated with the calling party number; and

the determining comprises determining the risk score based at least in part on whether any fraud associated with the calling party number occurred within a threshold number of days.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the determining comprises determining the risk score based at least in part on how many of the retrieved parameters meets corresponding thresholds used in authenticating the calling party number of the caller.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more retrieved parameters comprise one or more of a time of day, a frequency of calls, a velocity of calls, or a line type.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computing device, causes the at least one computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving a call request and calling party information associated with the call request, the calling party information comprising a calling party number;

retrieving one or more parameters associated with the calling party number;

determining a risk threshold for the call request based at least in part on a line type of the calling party number or a reason for the call request;

determining a risk score for the call request based at least in part on the one or more parameters, the risk score indicating a confidence that the call request can be authenticated;

comparing the risk score to the risk threshold;

generating an authentication result based at least in part on the comparing, the authentication result indicating whether the calling party number is authenticated; and

sending the authentication result to a call processing device that processes the call request from the caller according to the authentication result, wherein the authentication result is sent to the call processing device before the call request is routed to a destination by the call processing device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 17 , the operations further comprising:

tracking a number of accounts linked to the calling party number and fraud information associated with each of the linked accounts;

associating the authentication result with the calling party number;

determining an accuracy of the authentication result based at least in part on the fraud information and number of accounts; and

adjusting one or more thresholds corresponding to the retrieved parameters based on the accuracy of the authentication result.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 17 , wherein:

the comparing comprises determining that the risk score is less than the risk threshold; and

the generating comprises generating an authentication result that indicates the calling party number is authenticated responsive to determining that the risk score is less than the risk threshold.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable device of claim 17 , the operations further comprising determining the risk threshold based at least in part on at least one of the one or more retrieved parameters, wherein the at least one parameter comprises a line type of the calling party number.