Systems and methods for secure transaction approval

1. A system, comprising:

an authentication server; and

a transmitting device, wherein the transmitting device is in data communication with the authentication server through one or more intermediary devices,

wherein the authentication server is configured to:

receive a transaction request, wherein the transaction request specifies a time period for receipt of a transaction approval, and

upon receipt of a notification of an authentication tap by the transmitting device, wherein the authentication tap indicates the transaction approval:

transmit an allowance response if the notification is received within the time period, and

transmit a disallowance response if the notification is received after the time period.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting device comprises a contactless card having a near field communication interface.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:

the contactless card contains a memory storing personalization data, and

the authentication tap comprises an authentication message including the personalization data.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the authentication server is further configured to:

receive a time period extension; and

extend the time period by an amount of time equal to the time period extension.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the authentication server is further configured to:

receive a time period reduction; and

reduce the time period by an amount of time equal to the time period reduction.

6. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a client application comprising instructions for execution on a client device, a pre-approval option selection for a pre-approved transaction;

sending, by the client application, a request to an authentication server to permit a transaction pre-approval within a time period;

receiving, by the client application, a transaction notification from the authentication server;

matching, by the client application, the transaction notification to the pre-approved transaction;

requesting, by the client application, authentication in response to the transaction notification;

receiving, by the client application, a tap from a transmitting device on the client device;

sending, by the client application, the transaction pre-approval to the authentication server;

receiving, by the client application, an allowance response from the authentication server when the transaction pre-approval is received by the authentication server within the time period, or a disallowance response from the authentication server when the transaction pre-approval is received by the authentication server after the time period; and

receiving, by the client application, a transaction lockdown request.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the transmitting device comprises a contactless card having a near field communication interface.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising disabling, by the client application, a function of the transmitting device after receiving the transaction lockdown request.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising enabling, by the client application, a function of the transmitting device after receiving the allowance response.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising rejecting any transaction notification not matching the pre-approved transaction.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein matching the transaction notification to the pre-approved transaction includes matching a merchant and an amount.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pre-approval option selection includes a transaction type.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the transaction notification includes the transaction type.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein matching the transaction notification to the pre-approved transaction includes matching the transaction type.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising rejecting any transaction notification not matching the transaction type.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an authentication server, a request from a client application to permit a transaction pre-approval within a time period;

sending, by the authentication server, a transaction notification to the client application;

receiving, by the authentication server, the transaction pre-approval from the client application;

sending, by the authentication server, an allowance response to the client application when the transaction pre-approval is received by the authentication server within the time period or a disallowance response to the client application when the transaction pre-approval is received by the authentication server after the time period; and

sending, by the authentication server, a transaction lockdown request to the client application.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the transaction lockdown request instructs the client application to disable a function of the client application.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the allowance response instructs the client application to enable a function of the client application after sending the allowance response.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising modifying, by the client application, the time period.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising rejecting, by the authentication server, all transactions upon failure to receive the transaction pre-approval within the time period.

21. An authentication server in data communication with a client application, the authentication server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory,

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a request to permit a transaction pre-approval within a time period;

send a transaction notification;

receive the transaction pre-approval;

send, upon receipt of the transaction pre-approval within the time period, an allowance response;

send, upon receipt of the transaction pre-approval after the time period, a disallowance response; and

send a transaction lockdown request.

22. The authentication server of claim 21 , wherein the transaction lockdown request instructs the client application to disable a function of the client application.

23. The authentication server of claim 21 , wherein the allowance response instructs the client application to enable a function of the client application after sending the allowance response.

24. The authentication server of claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify the time period.

25. The authentication server of claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to reject all transactions upon failure to receive the transaction pre-approval within the time period.