Abstract: A method to facilitate a transaction using an instant messaging client comprising, receiving a formatted transaction request from the client via a messaging protocol, identifying a recipient and transaction information, facilitating the transaction and sending a notification of completion of the transaction via the messaging protocol.

Abstract: A system and method for authenticating communication from a message originator to a user is provided. An electronic message is identified as intended for a user. A service identifier associated with the user is retrieved from a database and inserted into a subject field or the body of the electronic message. The service identifier may be lexical, auditory, or visual. The electronic message can be an e-mail message, fax, short message, or multimedia message. The electronic message is then transmitted to a device associated with the user via a network serving the user. The presence of the service identifier in the subject field or message body authenticates that the electronic message originated from the professed message originator.