For scam victims, law firms, compliance teams and crypto-forensic analysts
Can't withdraw your money from the investment platform? Secure the evidence before it vanishes.
Without it, you may not get your money back and the case stalls.
A chargeback runs about 120 days, and the proof you need is the dashboard with profits, the chat with the adviser, the deepfake ad and your payment receipts. Capture everything now, because the scammer blocks the account and deletes the platform overnight. Forensic evidence ZIP in 10 seconds, with a SHA-256 hash and a Bitcoin blockchain timestamp.
Investment scams were the most damaging category in Australia, with about $945 million reported lost in 2024 (National Anti-Scam Centre), and most money sent to a scammer is hard to recover. A plain screenshot is easy to challenge as edited, and a court may want forensic proof. ProofSnap seals the page with SHA-256 and a Bitcoin OpenTimestamps anchor and a chain of custody, so the capture supports authentication of an electronic document under the Evidence Act 1995. It is the forensic-grade capture that withstands the challenge, for your Scamwatch, ReportCyber and ASIC report, a chargeback or AFCA complaint, and civil action.
Still not sure it's a scam? Check the firm on the ASIC Moneysmart Investor Alert List and for an AFS licence, and secure the platform and the ad in 10 seconds, before you deposit more.
One-time payment · no subscription · the evidence file is yours forever.
Also available for Microsoft Edge
Which option?
10 seconds per capture · Pay per use from $4.99 · Admissible: Evidence Act 1995
15% tax to release the withdrawal
Adviser: “Congratulations on the profit. To release the withdrawal, first send the 15% tax, we transfer within 24h.”
No AFS licence · on the ASIC alert list · domain active for 4 days
Secured and sealed
SHA-256 · timestamped
Illustrative example (fictitious platform, no real firm). In blue, the data typically faked: balance, total profit, amount available to withdraw, forced tax and celebrity endorsement. On the right, the ProofSnap side panel.
Bitcoin OpenTimestamps on every capture · verify each file yourself in the free, open Trust Verifier
Short answer
How do I secure an investment platform as evidence of a scam?
Capture the platform and the chats live with ProofSnap and in 10 seconds you have an evidence ZIP: proof of the balance, the profit, the tax demanded to withdraw and the chat with the adviser at the exact moment, before the scammer blocks the account and deletes the platform. Pay per use from $4.99 with Bitcoin proof or from $6.99 with a qualified timestamp.
ProofSnap captures the whole page (screenshot, source code, dashboard content, URL, metadata), computes the SHA-256 hash and anchors it to the Bitcoin blockchain via OpenTimestamps. A forensic-grade capture with a hash and a documented chain of custody supports authentication of an electronic document under the Evidence Act 1995, and you can add a qualified timestamp from Disig for cross-border cases. Every ZIP is verifiable by anyone in the ProofSnap Trust Verifier. Do it before you request a withdrawal, then contact your bank and report to Scamwatch, ReportCyber and ASIC.
Which stage are you at?
Whether you are still hesitating or can no longer withdraw, secured evidence works in your favour. Choose your situation.
Not sure it's a scam?
Check before you lose money. This is the moment when you have the most to gain and nothing to lose.
- 1.Check the firm and the domain on the ASIC Moneysmart Investor Alert List and for an Australian financial services (AFS) licence.
- 2.Secure the platform and the ad with ProofSnap, before they vanish. If it's a scam, you already have the proof; if not, you lose nothing.
- 3.Guaranteed profit, pressure to hurry and a fee before you can withdraw are red flags. Do not deposit under pressure.
Want your money back?
Every hour counts. Start with the evidence, without it the bank and Scamwatch won't move the case.
- 1.Do not pay the tax or fee they ask for to withdraw, it is the next stage of the scam.
- 2.Secure the dashboard, the chats and the payment receipts with ProofSnap, before the scammer blocks the account.
- 3.With the evidence, contact your bank straight away and report to Scamwatch, ReportCyber and ASIC.
From secured evidence to recovered money
ProofSnap does not recover the money for you, recovery is not guaranteed and speed matters, but every route to it starts with evidence that vanishes with the platform. This is how evidence turns into concrete action.
Secure the evidence (10 sec)
Dashboard with balance and profit, the tax demanded to withdraw, chats with the adviser, the deepfake ad and payment receipts, sealed with SHA-256 and a timestamp. It is the material every step below needs.
Bank, chargeback or AFCA
Contact your bank immediately to freeze or reverse the payment. Paid by card? Ask for a chargeback (often around 120 days). If you think your bank or the receiving bank did not meet its scam obligations, complain through its dispute resolution and then to AFCA (free); from 12 March 2026 AFCA can also consider the receiving bank. The bank needs the evidence.
Scamwatch, ReportCyber, lawyer
Report the scam to Scamwatch and ASIC, and report the fraud through ReportCyber or to police on 131 444. Check the firm on the ASIC Investor Alert List. IDCARE, a free government-funded service, can help with a response plan, and a lawyer can pursue civil action. Every hour of delay lowers the chance of recovery.
Why evidence first and not the call to the adviser? The moment you ask for a withdrawal, the scammer blocks the account and deletes the platform within hours. The bank, AFCA and a lawyer cannot reconstruct what no longer exists. Secured evidence is the one thing no one can take from you afterwards, and the requirement to even begin recovering.
Chargeback and AFCA outcomes depend on your circumstances and the firm's assessment, and money sent overseas is often hard to recover. ProofSnap is not legal or financial advice; confirm the route and deadlines with your bank and a lawyer.
Is a screenshot evidence in court?
Electronic records are admissible (Evidence Act 1995), but a plain image is weak and easy to challenge. Four reasons ProofSnap removes in 10 seconds.
The platform disappears overnight
The moment you ask for a withdrawal, the scammer blocks the account and deletes the domain and the chat. Within days the site is gone and the server is overseas.
No verifiable timestamp
A screenshot has no proven moment of creation. You cannot prove when the dashboard showed the profit or when the fee to withdraw was demanded.
The objection: "anyone can fake it"
Images are easy to edit. The authenticity of a screenshot can be challenged, and a court may want forensic proof that the metadata was not changed. A hash settles it.
No URL, source code or chain of custody
A screenshot is missing the URL, the source code, the adviser's profile and the metadata that a Scamwatch report and civil action need to attribute the scam to its author.
The same sealed evidence works in other internet disputes. This is how you also secure a fake Google review or a used-car scam, before the other side deletes the content.
Platform already gone? You can still secure evidence.
The scammer deleted the platform and blocked you? Several sources survive the website's disappearance. Secure everything now, before they vanish too.
Chats with the adviser
The WhatsApp, Telegram or email chats are still in your inbox. That is where the promises fall: guaranteed profit, a withdrawal after you pay the tax. Secure the whole conversation.
Bank payment receipts
The statement and the receipts for transfers or card payments show how much, when and to whom you paid. Open your online banking and secure them with a timestamp, they are the basis of your chargeback, AFCA complaint and report.
Alert list, ad and cache
Check the firm on the ASIC Investor Alert List and secure the result. The deepfake ad, the sponsored post or a version of the platform sometimes remain in Google's cache or on the Wayback Machine.
Prefer no subscription? SnapPack for $4.99, 10 captures, Bitcoin timestamp.
Fake platform, deepfake, fee to withdraw
Three situations where the platform and the chats are the decisive evidence, and where every hour counts.
You can't withdraw the funds
The dashboard shows a high profit, but the withdrawal is blocked and, to release it, they ask for a fee, a tax or a deposit. It is direct proof of obtaining a financial advantage by deception. Secure the dashboard and the payment demand before they block the account.
Deepfake celebrity ad
You arrived through an ad in which a well-known person "endorses" the platform. ASIC warns these are scams: it is a fake video and an element of the deception. These ads disappear very fast, secure the video and the landing page immediately.
"We'll recover your money" (recovery scam)
After the loss, someone appears who, for an upfront fee, promises to recover the funds. ASIC warns this follow-up scam is usually a second fraud. Do not pay, secure that conversation as evidence of the next attempt and report it.
In four steps, from "I think I've been scammed" to proof
No technical knowledge. The whole thing takes about 10 seconds.
Open the platform and the chats
Open the dashboard with balance and profit, the chat with the adviser and the ad, while they are still online. Do not close the account before securing.
Check the ASIC alert list
Check the firm and the domain on the ASIC Moneysmart Investor Alert List and for an AFS licence. Secure the result, whether it is listed or not, with the platform.
Click ProofSnap
One click captures the whole page with the balance, the dashboard, the URL, the metadata, the DOM content and the SHA-256 hash.
Act
Contact your bank for a freeze or chargeback, report to Scamwatch, ReportCyber and ASIC, and hand the evidence to a lawyer.
What the evidence ZIP contains, up to 15 forensic files, all verifiable in the free Trust Verifier
SnapPack and Professional include the Bitcoin blockchain timestamp (.ots). The qualified timestamp (.tsr and eidas_validation.json) is in the eIDAS SnapPack and the Enterprise plan, useful for cross-border cases.
Built for the court, choose by risk
Every capture is anchored to the Bitcoin blockchain. Add the qualified timestamp for cross-border cases.
Layer 1: SHA-256 hash + Bitcoin OpenTimestamps
Court layer for Australia
The SHA-256 hash of your capture is anchored to the Bitcoin blockchain, a decentralised, tamper-resistant proof that the platform and the chats existed at time T. Sealed with a hash and a documented chain of custody, the capture supports authentication of an electronic document under the Evidence Act 1995. Verifiable by anyone (base layer, always included).
Included in every paid plan, or separately with the SnapPack $4.99 (10 captures)
Layer 2: qualified timestamp (eIDAS)
Cross-border layer
Issued by Disig a.s., a qualified trust service provider on the EU Trusted List. Under EU eIDAS Article 41(2) the timestamp carries a presumption of accuracy of the date and integrity of the data across the EU, useful when an EU counterparty, bank or court is involved. For an Australian case the evidence rests on the SHA-256 hash, the chain of custody and the Evidence Act 1995.
With the eIDAS SnapPack from $6.99, or included in the Enterprise plan
What it rests on
Fraud: Criminal Code Act 1995
Obtaining a financial advantage by deception (Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth)) and state Crimes Acts; investment misconduct under the Corporations Act 2001. Basis of the report.
Recovery: chargeback, AFCA
Bank freeze, card chargeback, and an AFCA complaint under the Scams Prevention Framework (from 12 March 2026 also against the receiving bank). Money sent overseas is hard to recover, so evidence and speed decide it.
ASIC, Scamwatch, bank
Check the firm on the ASIC Investor Alert List, report to Scamwatch and ASIC and through ReportCyber (police 131 444). All of them rely on the evidence.
Evidence Act 1995 (s 48, 146, 147)
Electronic records are admissible and machine-produced documents have presumptions; a hash and a chain of custody support authentication, which a plain screenshot lacks.
ProofSnap is an evidence tool, not legal or financial advice. In your case, consult a lawyer and report the scam to the bank and the authorities.
For professionals
Handling investment-scam cases? It's your working tool
Clients arrive after the loss, when the evidence is often already gone. Whoever secures it first wins the case. For firms and teams it is a recurring need, not a one-off.
Law firms
For each client, secure the platform, the chats and the payment receipts in seconds, before the scammer deletes them, with a hash and a chain of custody that supports authentication under the Evidence Act 1995. Basis for the report, the AFCA complaint and civil action.
- Strong, recurring evidence for every case
- Team accounts for the whole firm
- A tool you give the client at the first consultation so they can secure the evidence themselves
Banks, fintech and compliance
When scammers impersonate your brand or image in deepfake ads, secure the fake pages and videos with a timestamp, for takedown requests to the platforms and ASIC and referrals to Scamwatch, and to protect the brand.
Crypto-forensics, AML and journalists
Secure the platform, the wallet addresses and the posts with addresses, before they vanish. A source snapshot that holds up in court for analysis, the report and the story, with a SHA-256 hash and a timestamp.
Team accounts · qualified timestamps · may be a tax-deductible business expense
Pay per capture or choose a plan
An investment scam is usually a one-off case, most people simply buy a SnapPack. No subscription.
Unsure? Choose by risk and volume.
One case now
Bitcoin proof, 10 captures, no subscription.
Supports the Evidence Act 1995.
SnapPack, $4.99 ↓Cross-border case
Qualified timestamp, a single capture.
EU eIDAS Article 41(2).
eIDAS SnapPack 1, $6.99 ↓Several pieces of evidence
Platform, chats, ad, receipts.
Qualified, $5/stamp.
eIDAS SnapPack 5, $24.99 ↓SnapPack
$4.9910 page captures, each with a SHA-256 hash and a Bitcoin blockchain timestamp, in a complete forensic evidence file. One-time payment, no subscription, no auto-renewal.
- Proof that the platform and the chats existed at a given moment
- Chain of custody and certificate of origin (PDF)
- 10 views of the platform, chats or receipts to capture
eIDAS SnapPack, for cross-border cases
Add a qualified timestamp to your captures (EU eIDAS Article 41(2)). Balance valid for 12 months.
Every eIDAS SnapPack capture also includes the Bitcoin OpenTimestamps anchor, both layers in a single ZIP.
Or a plan, for firms, compliance and teams
For those who document scams regularly. Annual plans save about 20%.
Essential
or $80/yr (save ~20%)
- 100 captures/mo
- SHA-256 hash and digital signature
- No blockchain timestamp, use the SnapPack
- Forensic ZIP with chain of custody
Professional
or $160/yr (save ~20%)
- 200 captures/mo
- Bitcoin OpenTimestamps on every capture
- Independently verifiable proof of date
- Team accounts
Enterprise
or $280/yr (save ~20%)
- Unlimited captures
- Bitcoin OpenTimestamps on every capture
- 10 qualified timestamps/mo
- Email support · reply within 3 business days
7-day trial · a payment card is required. Cancel anytime during the trial, at no cost.
Teams from 2 people: Company plan at $18.99/licence/mo. Prices in USD; Stripe converts at checkout (AUD in Australia). May be a tax-deductible business expense.
Two kinds of pack. The SnapPack ($4.99) gives 10 captures with the Bitcoin OpenTimestamps layer, which supports authentication under the Evidence Act 1995. For cross-border cases that need a qualified timestamp (EU eIDAS Article 41(2)) use the eIDAS SnapPack.
The balance doesn't expire soon. The eIDAS SnapPack balance is valid for 12 months, so you can buy ahead. Secure payment with Stripe; for any purchase, including the SnapPack, a payment card is required.
ProofSnap vs screenshot, Wayback Machine and JP or notary
Forensic evidence that is yours, in seconds, for a few dollars.
| Feature | ProofSnap | Screenshot | Wayback Machine | JP / notary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captures the platform before they delete it | Manual | Rarely (dashboard behind login) | Needs an appointment, too slow | |
| SHA-256 and Bitcoin timestamp | No | No | No | |
| Qualified timestamp eIDAS (option) | No | No | Certified copy (different process) | |
| Chain of custody, URL and metadata | No | No | Partial | |
| The evidence is yours (local) | ||||
| Built for the court (Evidence Act 1995) | Easy to challenge | Supporting only | Yes | |
| Entry price | $4.99 SnapPack · $6.99 eIDAS 1 pc | A$0 | free | appointment + fees |
Comparison based on public information from 2026. A certified copy from a Justice of the Peace or notary needs an appointment and does not include a hash or chain of custody. The platform dashboard is only visible after login and rarely reaches the Wayback Machine, which is why having your own sealed capture matters.
Frequently asked questions
No proof, no money back.
A chargeback expires after about 120 days, and the platform disappears overnight. Capture it in 10 seconds, before the scammer blocks the account, and give the bank and Scamwatch what they need. Start with the SnapPack for $4.99, or add a qualified timestamp from $6.99 for a cross-border case.
Secure the evidence, 7-day trial7-day trial · a payment card is required. Cancel anytime during the trial. Prefer no subscription? Buy a SnapPack for $4.99.