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Digital safetyDMfirst-owned · Edition 047
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Keep evidence of a suspicious message

Deleting every trace immediately may remove information useful for a report. Evidence can be preserved without continuing the conversation.

Understand the idea

Deleting every trace immediately may remove information useful for a report. Evidence can be preserved without continuing the conversation.

Put it into practice

Save the sender identifier, timestamps and message text in a private record. Report through the platform and stop engaging with the sender.

Know the limits

Do not redistribute suspicious links publicly in a form that invites other people to click them.

The wider context

Pause when a message creates urgency or asks for a secret. These notes focus on recognizing common warning signs and preserving evidence. They do not certify an operator or replace professional incident assistance. Report concerns through the affected service’s verified support and relevant local channels.

Your next step

Use the practical step above only where it fits your situation. Before an account-specific action, check the current instructions from the service or device provider involved. Write down what you observed and what remains uncertain; that makes a follow-up question more useful.

This is a DMfirst-owned guide. For the parent site’s information and referral disclosures, visit DMfirst. The affiliation is explicit; this publication is not an independent endorsement.

Make the reading useful.

Take a moment to check your understanding. This is a reflection aid, not a certification or account check.

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