Systems and methods for security alerts

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

performing an account set-up procedure including:

receiving, at a security alert server, a user selection of a portion of an account number associated with a user account of a user, wherein the user selection of the portion of the account number is a primary threat indicator associated with the user account;

receiving, at the security alert server, a user selection of a first combination of a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the user account, wherein the user selection of the first combination of the PIN is a first secondary threat indicator associated with a first contingency action; and

receiving, at the security alert server, a user selection of a second combination of the PIN associated with the user account, wherein the user selection of the second combination of the PIN is a secondary threat indicator associated with a second contingency action; and

performing a threat alert procedure including:

receiving, at the security alert server via one of a plurality of automated teller machines (ATM):

a transaction initiation identifying the user account, and

a first ATM input from the user via an alphanumeric keypad on the ATM;

determining, by the security alert server, that the first ATM input matches the primary threat indicator by matching the first ATM input to the portion of the account number associated with the user account;

in response to the determination that the first ATM input matches the primary threat indicator:

providing a visual indication via an ATM display of the ATM that the ATM has entered a threat indicator mode, and

requesting a second ATM input from the user;

receiving, at the security alert server and via the ATM, the second ATM input from the user via the alphanumeric keypad on the ATM;

determining, by the security alert server, that the second ATM input matches one of the first secondary threat indicator or the second secondary threat indicator;

executing, by the security alert server, the first contingency action when the second ATM input matches the first secondary threat indicator; and

executing, by the security alert server, the second contingency action when the second ATM input matches the second secondary threat indicator,

wherein at least one of the first contingency action or the second contingency action includes at least one of locking access to the user account or limiting funds available for withdrawal from the user account, and

wherein the method is performed using one or more processors.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

clearing the threat indicator mode in response to receiving a first clearance action when the second ATM input matches the first secondary threat indicator; and

clearing the threat indicator mode in response to receiving a second clearance action when the second ATM input matches the second secondary threat indicator, the second clearance action being different than the first clearance action.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first clearance action or the second clearance action includes an intervention by a third party other than the user.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising reporting a user location to a law enforcement entity.

5. The mode of claim 1 , wherein the first contingency action is different than the second contingency action.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first combination is a reverse order of the numbers in the PIN.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

receiving an input of the first secondary threat indicator indicates a first perceived level of danger; and

receiving an input of the second secondary threat indicator indicates a second perceived level of danger higher than the first perceived level of danger.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising, based on the determination that the second ATM input from the user matches the first secondary threat indicator, causing a photograph to be taken of the user.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus at least to perform:

receiving a user selection of a string of characters that matches a portion of an account number associated with a user account of a user, wherein the user selection of the string of characters that matches a portion of the account number is a primary threat indicator associated with the user account;

receiving, at the security alert server, a user selection of a first combination of a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the user account, wherein the user selection of the first combination of the PIN is a first secondary threat indicator associated with a first contingency action;

receiving, at the security alert server, a user selection of a second combination of the PIN associated with the user account, wherein the user selection of the second combination of the PIN is a second secondary threat indicator associated with a second contingency action;

receiving, via one of a plurality of automated teller machines (ATM):

a transaction initiation identifying the user account, and

a first ATM input from the user via an alphanumeric keypad;

determining that the first ATM input matches the primary threat indicator by matching the first ATM input to the portion of the account number associated with the user account;

in response to the determination that the first ATM input matches the primary threat indicator:

providing a visual indication via an ATM display of the ATM that the ATM has entered a threat indicator mode, and

requesting a second ATM input from the user;

receiving, via the ATM, the second input from the user via the alphanumeric keypad;

determining that the second ATM input matches one of the first secondary threat indicator or the second secondary threat indicator;

executing the first contingency action when the second ATM input matches the first secondary threat indicator; and

executing the second contingency action when the second ATM input matches the second secondary threat indictor,

wherein at least one of the first contingency action or the second contingency action includes at least one of locking access to the user account or limiting funds available for withdrawal from the user account.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to:

clear the threat indicator mode in response to receiving a first clearance action when the second ATM input matches the first secondary threat indicator; and

clear the threat indicator mode in response to receiving a second clearance action when the second ATM input matches the second secondary threat indicator, the second clearance action being different than the first clearance action.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the at least one of the first clearance or the second clearance action includes an intervention by a third party other than the user.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to report a user location to a law enforcement entity.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the first contingency action is different than the second contingency action.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein:

receiving an input of the first secondary threat indicator indicates a first perceived level of danger; and

receiving an input of the second secondary threat indictor indicates a second perceived level of danger higher than the first perceived level of danger.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to, based on the determination that the second ATM input from the user matches the first secondary threat indicator, take a photograph of the user.

16. A security alert apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor issues instructions to:

receive a user selection of a portion of an account number associated with a user account of a user, wherein the user selection of the portion of the account number is a primary threat indicator associated with the user account;

receive a user selection of a first combination of a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the user account, wherein the user selection of the first combination of the PIN is a first secondary threat indicator associated with a first contingency action;

receiving a user selection of a second combination of the PIN associated with the user account, wherein the user selection of the second combination of the PIN is a second secondary threat indicator associated with a second contingency action;

receive, via one of a plurality of automated teller machines (ATM):

a transaction initiation identifying the user account, and

a first ATM input from the user;

determine that the first ATM input matches the primary threat indicator by matching the first ATM input to the portion of the account number associated with the user account;

in response to the determination that the first ATM input matches the primary threat indicator:

provide a visual indication via an ATM display of the ATM that the ATM has entered a threat indicator mode, and

request a second ATM input from the user;

receive, via the ATM, the second ATM input from the user;

determine that the second ATM input matches one of the first secondary threat indicator or the second secondary threat indicator;

execute the first contingency action when the second ATM input matches the first secondary threat indicator; and

execute the second contingency action when the second ATM input matches the second secondary threat indicator,

wherein at least one of the first contingency action or the second contingency action includes at least one of locking access to the user account or limiting funds available for withdrawal from the user account.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

clear the threat indicator mode in response to receiving a first clearance action when the second ATM input matches the first secondary threat indicator; and

clear the threat indicator mode in response to receiving a second clearance action when the second ATM input matches the second secondary threat indicator, the second clearance action being different than the first clearance action.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein providing the visual indication includes changing a color of at least one of a text or a background of the ATM display.