How To Preserve Scam Evidence
Good evidence helps your bank, the police, and platforms act — capture it before anything disappears.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
First 10 minutes
- Screenshot conversations, profiles, and any platform/dashboard
- Save payment receipts, references, and wallet addresses
- Don't delete messages yet — capture them first
First 24 hours
- Organise evidence by date and source
- Back it up somewhere secure (and a second location)
- Export emails with full headers where possible
Contact your bank or payment provider
- Provide transaction references and timeline to your bank
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshots of all messages, including dates and usernames
- Sender numbers, emails, and profile URLs
- Links (recorded as text, not clicked)
- Payment records: amounts, references, accounts, wallet addresses
- Any documents, contracts, or 'invoices' received
Secure your accounts and devices
- After capturing evidence, block the scammer and secure accounts
Report it
- Report to your national fraud/cybercrime service
- Report to the platform, bank, or provider involved
- Keep any reference numbers you're given
Evidence is what turns 'I think I was scammed' into something your bank, the police, and platforms can act on. The catch is that much of it can vanish — scammers delete accounts, and you may be tempted to block and erase everything.
Capture first, then clean up. Screenshot conversations and profiles, save payment details and links as text, and store copies safely. Well-organised evidence speeds up reporting and any reimbursement claim.
Frequently asked questions
Should I block the scammer right away?
Capture your evidence first — screenshots of chats, profiles, links, and payments. Once that's safely saved, blocking and reporting the scammer is the right move.