What not to delete after a scam
It is tempting to erase the messages and the app, but that record is what proves your case.
Updated 2026-09-29 · Independent resource. Legal review pending.
Why the urge to delete is understandable
Many people want to erase everything the moment they realise it was a scam, out of shame or a wish to stop seeing it. This is completely understandable, but it removes the exact record a bank, the police, or a lawyer will need.
Take screenshots first, then step away from the app rather than deleting it outright. You can stop seeing it without destroying the evidence.
Do not delete the app, account, or platform
Keep the scam app, website login, or account active if you can, even though opening it is unpleasant. It shows exactly how the interface, the balance, and the withdrawal block appeared to you.
If you must uninstall the app for your own peace of mind, screenshot every screen first, including settings and any transaction history. Read what to save after an investment scam or the crypto scam version for what to capture.
Do not delete chats, calls, or contacts
Keep every conversation with the scammer, including ordinary messages that do not mention money, since they show how trust was built. Do not block or delete the contact until you have saved their number and any profile details.
Keep call logs and voice notes too, even if a call was not recorded. Read how to screenshot chat and call evidence so nothing is lost.
Do not clear browser history or wipe your phone
If you accessed the platform through a browser, do not clear your history, cache, or saved passwords for that site, since this can show your login pattern and dates. Avoid a factory reset of your phone until your evidence is fully backed up elsewhere.
If your phone or account was compromised, read about securing your online banking alongside preserving what is already there.
What to do next
Once everything is saved elsewhere, in screenshots, exports, and backups, you can step back from the app or platform without losing your case. From there, focus on reporting through a police report and organising what you have.
If you already deleted something, save whatever remains rather than trying to rebuild it perfectly. Read how to organise evidence for a lawyer for how to work with a partial record.
If you are worried you already deleted something important, tell us what happened and we will help you see what can still be recovered or worked around.
Common questions
Should I delete the scam app immediately to protect my peace of mind?
Screenshot everything first, including the dashboard, transaction history, and any withdrawal block, before you remove the app. Once you have a full record saved elsewhere, you can uninstall it without losing evidence.
I already blocked the scammer's number. Have I lost anything important?
You likely still have the number in your call log or block list, and your message history with them should remain unless it was also deleted. Check both, and note the number so it can still be checked against records such as Semak Mule.
Is it safe to keep using the same phone after a scam?
Yes, but change your passwords and review your security settings, since some scams involve installed apps or remote access. Read about securing your online banking so your phone stays safe while you keep your evidence.
Read next
How to organise evidence for a lawyer
Here is how to organise your screenshots, records, and messages into a clear file before you speak to a lawyer about your case.
Read thisHow to screenshot chat and call evidence
Here is how to screenshot and save chat messages and call records properly so they hold up as evidence after a scam.
Read thisHow to make a police report
If you want to report a scam, here is how to make a police report, what the Commercial Crime Investigation Department handles, and what to bring.
Read thisHow to build a transaction chronology
If your scam involved more than one payment, here is how to build a clear transaction chronology that a bank, the police, or a lawyer can follow.
Read thisIf you are worried you already deleted something important, tell us what happened and we will help you see what can still be recovered or worked around.