Evidence Checklist for Scam Victims in Canada
The quality of your evidence determines the outcome of every dispute, claim, and legal step you take. This checklist covers every category of evidence you need to gather — organised by type and priority — so nothing critical gets missed before it disappears.
Your Evidence Is the Foundation of Every Step You Take
Every institution you turn to after a scam — your bank, a securities regulator, or legal counsel — will ask for documentation. Without it, complaints stall, disputes are rejected, and investigations cannot proceed.
The challenge is that scam evidence is fragile. Messaging apps have export limits. Profiles disappear overnight. Platform websites vanish within days of victims starting to ask questions. Cryptocurrency transaction visibility narrows over time.
This checklist is designed to be used immediately — ideally within the first 24 hours. Work through each category systematically and store everything in at least two places. The more complete your evidence file, the stronger your position at every stage of the process.
Communications Evidence — Save This First
Messaging histories are the most commonly lost category of evidence. Export full chat histories before doing anything else — they can be deleted remotely by scammers at any time.
Messaging Apps
- Export full WhatsApp chat history including media — use the in-app export function
- Screenshot every Telegram conversation page by page showing dates and timestamps
- Export Signal conversation history if applicable
- Screenshot all direct messages on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or any dating app used
Email Correspondence
- Save every email thread — inbox, sent items, deleted items, and spam folder
- Note the sender’s email address in full — fraudsters often use lookalike domains
- Save any attached documents, contracts, or promotional materials from emails
- Export or screenshot email headers which contain routing information
Phone & Call Records
- Screenshot your call log showing all numbers that contacted you with dates and durations
- Note any numbers used — including whether they appeared local or international
- If voicemails were left, record them or screenshot the voicemail notification
- Contact your carrier if you need call records going back further than your phone stores
Profile & Identity Evidence
- Screenshot full profile pages — name, photo, bio, location, linked accounts
- Save every photo or video they sent you during the relationship
- Record all names, aliases, and usernames they used across every platform
- Save any identification documents they provided — ID cards, passports, business cards
Payment & Transaction Evidence
Financial records are what banks and legal counsel need most. Gather every record of money that moved — regardless of how the payment was made.
Bank Transfers & Card Payments
Bank statements showing all outgoing transfers related to the scam
Wire transfer receipts and reference numbers for every transaction
Interac e-transfer confirmation emails and transaction numbers
Credit card statements showing any charges from the platform or individuals
Cryptocurrency Transactions
Every wallet address you sent funds to — copy the full address exactly
Transaction IDs (TXIDs) for every crypto transfer you made
Screenshots of your wallet transaction history showing outgoing transfers
Exchange receipts from any platform used to purchase crypto for transfer
Gift Cards & Other Payment Methods
Gift card purchase receipts showing retailer, date, and amount
Card numbers and redemption codes if they were communicated to the scammer
Screenshots of any payment instruction messages sent to you
Records of any money service bureaus or wire services used
Platform, Website & Document Evidence
Scam platforms disappear within days. Archive everything about the platform before it is taken offline — use web archive tools where possible.
Platform URL and any alternative domain names used
Screenshots of your account dashboard — balance, trade history, withdrawal history
Screenshots of every withdrawal attempt and any rejection or delay messages
Any fee or tax demand notices received from the platform
Contracts, investment agreements, or onboarding documents received
Any company name, registration number, or licence information displayed
Account statements or portfolio reports provided by the platform
Save a copy of the platform at archive.org — paste the URL and click Save Page Now
Write Your Timeline While Memory Is Fresh
A written account of events — in your own words and in chronological order — is one of the most valuable things you can provide to your bank, ScamResponse.ca, and any legal counsel you engage. Write it now, before the details blur.
Your timeline should cover the following in order:
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When and where you first made contact — the platform, the date, and how the contact was initiated
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How the relationship or opportunity developed — what was promised, what was shown, what was said
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Every payment made — date, amount, method, and what you were told the payment was for
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When and how you first suspected something was wrong — what happened to trigger that realisation
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What steps you have already taken — who you have contacted and what response you received
How to Organise and Store What You Have Gathered
Collecting evidence is only half the job. How you store and organise it determines how useful it will be when you need it.
Use Folders by Category
- Create separate folders: Communications, Financial, Platform, Identity, Timeline
- Name files with dates so they sort chronologically
- Keep originals — do not edit, crop, or annotate screenshots
- Original metadata in image files supports authenticity
Back Up to Two Locations
- Save everything to both your device and a cloud storage service
- Use Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox — not just your phone’s camera roll
- If your device is compromised, cloud backup ensures nothing is lost
- Consider emailing key evidence to yourself as an additional backup
Create a Summary Document
- Write a one-page summary: who, what, when, how much, what platforms
- List every file you have collected with a brief description of each
- This makes it much faster for banks and legal counsel to process your submission
- Update it each time you collect new evidence
What Not to Do
- Do not delete anything — even messages that feel painful or embarrassing
- Do not edit or alter any screenshots before submission
- Do not share evidence with the scammer — it signals that you are building a case
- Do not rely solely on your memory — write everything down now
Have Your Evidence Ready? Let Us Turn It Into a Report.
ScamResponse.ca takes your evidence and builds a structured, professional investigation report — formatted for banks and legal counsel to act on. Free assessment, no obligation.
Why a Professional Investigation Report Goes Further Than Evidence Alone
Even with a complete evidence file, most victims find that their bank dispute or legal claim is significantly stronger when supported by a professional investigation report. Banks receive hundreds of fraud complaints — a structured, clearly written report separates your submission from a folder of screenshots.
ScamResponse.ca takes everything you have gathered and turns it into a professional, indexed investigation report written specifically for the institutions you are submitting to. Our reports have been used successfully for bank disputes and legal proceedings across Canada.
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Submit your case with the evidence you have gathered — no matter how incomplete it feels
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Receive a free honest assessment of what the investigation can cover and what your report will contain
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Receive a structured, legal-ready report within one to two weeks — ready for every institution you need to approach
Your Free Investigation Assessment Starts With One Message.
Submit your case for a completely free confidential review. No upfront cost, no hidden charges, no obligation — just an honest response within 24 hours.
FAQ — Evidence Checklist for Scam Victims
Practical answers to common questions about gathering and using scam evidence in Canada.
What if I already deleted some messages?
How should I store evidence so banks and legal counsel can use it?
Should I keep communicating with the scammer while gathering evidence?
Is partial evidence worth submitting to my bank?
Related Guides for Scam Victims
Free resources to help you understand, document, and respond to online fraud in Canada.
| What to Do After an Online Scam |
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Evidence Checklist for Scam Victims — Current Page
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| Pig Butchering Scam — How It Works |
| Red Flags of a Fake Investment Platform |
| How to Report a Scam in Canada — Step by Step |