Which messaging account identifiers should be preserved?¶

A screenshot may show a familiar name but hide the identifiers needed for later enquiries.

Evidential caution: that the visible name will be enough to find or prove the account later.

What this means¶

This may include the username, profile URL, telephone number, email address, account ID, user ID, member ID, channel ID, group ID, conversation ID and message ID.

Also record the display name and profile image, but treat them as changeable labels.

Where the account appears in a group, preserve the group identifier, role, join date and any administrator or moderator status.

Where messages are involved, preserve message IDs, reply references, timestamps, delivery states and attachment identifiers where available.

Be careful with contact-book names. A name shown on a device may come from the device owner’s saved contacts rather than from the service.

What to check or do next¶

• Preserve every stable identifier available.
• Capture the service involved and the date of collection. The same username may exist on several platforms, and account details may change after the evidence is first seen.
• Do not rely only on typed notes. Preserve screenshots, exports or original records that show the identifiers in context.
• If a provider request may follow, accurate identifiers reduce delay and the risk of targeting the wrong account.

Evidential limits¶

Record any uncertainty. If you cannot establish whether a number, username or profile belongs to the same account, do not silently merge them.