Evidence to keep after a scam
You want to know exactly what to save before it disappears or gets deleted.
Updated 2026-09-29
Save these for every scam
Keep the full chat history with the scammer, not just a few screenshots. The order of messages matters.
Save transfer receipts, the account number or wallet address you paid, and the app or website name. Write down the date and approximate time of each payment while it is still fresh in your memory.
Our timeline builder turns this into a clean record for a lawyer or the police.
If it was an investment or crypto platform
Screenshot the dashboard, the balance shown, and any withdrawal error message. Do this before the investment scam platform disappears or blocks you.
For a crypto scam, save every wallet address and transaction hash involved. A trace depends on these records staying complete.
Keep the name of the “broker” or contact, and their profile link. Save any certificate or licence they showed you, even if it looks fake.
If it was a job or task scam
Save the job advertisement, the recruiter’s messages, and any group chat instructions about tasks or deposits. This pattern is described in job and task scams.
Keep proof of the platform you were told to use, and any receipt showing money you paid in.
If it was a bank transfer or e-wallet scam
Save the transfer confirmation from your bank or e-wallet app, including the reference number and the receiving account details. If you called your bank, note who you spoke to and roughly when.
Keep it usable, not just saved
Export chats as a file or take full-page screenshots rather than cropped ones. Context can matter later, and a crop can lose it.
Store everything in one folder, on your phone and backed up elsewhere. A single lost device should not cost you the record.
What to do next
Once your evidence is together, a police report and a bank complaint both move faster. A short conversation can confirm what is still missing.
Report to the right channel once you are confident your evidence is in order.
Tell us what type of scam you are dealing with, and we will help you check whether you have what a lawyer would need.
Common questions
What counts as evidence in a scam case?
Anything that shows what happened and who was involved: chat messages, transfer receipts, account numbers, screenshots of the app or website, and any documents the scammer sent you. Even a phone number or a social media profile can matter later.
Is it too late to collect evidence if I already deleted the app?
Not necessarily. Your bank statement still shows the transfer, and your chat app may still hold the conversation even if you removed the scam app itself. Check your email too, since confirmation messages often sit there unnoticed.
Should I keep evidence even for a scam I did not report yet?
Yes. Evidence can disappear if an account is closed, a chat is deleted, or a website goes offline, so save it before you decide whether to report. Reporting later is still possible, and easier, once everything is preserved.
Read next
Build a clear scam timeline
How to turn scattered dates, amounts, and account numbers into a clean chronology a lawyer or the police can actually use.
Read thisCrypto scam: what you can do
If a crypto exchange or wallet blocks your withdrawal after you met the operator on a chat app, here is how to trace what happened and what to do next.
Read thisInvestment scam: what you can do
If an investment platform blocks your withdrawal or demands more fees, here is how these scams work and the realistic steps to try to recover in Malaysia.
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 thisTell us what type of scam you are dealing with, and we will help you check whether you have what a lawyer would need.