How to preserve evidence
Build a dated chronology
Keep original messages, email files, contracts, full website addresses, payment receipts and withdrawal requests. Record dates, amounts and who said what. Capture relevant pages with the address visible. A screenshot can support a chronology but does not authenticate the claims it displays; retain original files and context.
Share only what is needed
Store a secure backup and avoid editing your only original. Redact account numbers, identity documents and private third-party details before sending copies to a review site. Share full evidence only through trusted official channels where necessary. Do not log into an unsafe site or reconnect remote access just to gather more material.
Keep originals and working copies apart
Use a clearly named folder for originals and a separate folder for redacted copies. Note the date and source of each item and retain the full conversation around a disputed statement. This practical organisation helps a reviewer follow events; it does not guarantee that every item meets a court’s evidential requirements.
Create an evidence index
Give each item a simple identifier and note its date, source, description and the fact it supports. For example, distinguish a deposit receipt from a chat promising a withdrawal and from a screenshot of the account balance. These items establish different things. Keep a short chronology linking them, so a reviewer does not need to infer the sequence from file names or assume that a displayed profit was actually paid.
Preserve context and original meaning
Keep the full address bar or original message where possible, not just a cropped claim. Note the time zone if timing matters and distinguish when an event occurred from when you captured it. Do not rewrite the original to make it read more clearly; put your explanation in a separate note. If you translate a message, keep the original beside the translation and identify uncertain wording rather than silently changing its meaning.
Plan sharing and access
Decide which institution needs which evidence before making copies. A bank may need the transaction reference, while a public correction request may only need a source URL and redacted excerpt. Keep a record of what you sent and to whom. Avoid a publicly accessible folder containing the full case. If you are unsure whether a file contains hidden personal information, use a trusted reviewer to check the copy before sharing it broadly.