The present invention relates to a system and a method for carrying out
personal transactions including financial transactions, e-mail
transactions, and voice messaging transactions. A user of the system is
issued a ten digit identification number in the form of a telephone
number. The identification number may be the user's actual phone number
or a pseudo phone number. The user is also assigned a PIN number which
contains a single or multiple digit security element which allows the
user to indicate a security problem and its nature by dialing the
assigned PIN number and which allows the user to avoid tripping the
security elements of the system by using a digit or digits other than
that/those assigned as the significantly placed digit(s) in the PIN
number. Access to the system is provided either by dialing a central
telephone number or via the Internet.