Does a receipt identify the purchaser?¶

A receipt records a sale or payment event, but it does not automatically identify the person who made the purchase.

Avoid this assumption: The name, card details or loyalty account shown on the receipt proves personal involvement.

A receipt may show the merchant, date, time, items, amount, payment method, masked card details, terminal, till, order number and staff operator.

For online purchases, it may also show account, billing or delivery information.

The receipt can help establish what was sold, where and when, and how the merchant recorded payment.

But another person may have used the card, account, loyalty number or email address.

A receipt recovered from a person or device may show possession of the document, not necessarily participation in the purchase.

A digital receipt may be sent automatically to an account or email address shared by several people.

Preserve the original receipt and all identifiers. For paper receipts, record where and how it was recovered.

Ask the merchant for till records, transaction references, order details, account logs and CCTV.

Compare the receipt with card or bank records, device evidence, delivery or collection records and possession of the goods.

Do not assume that a receipt proves payment completed. Some receipts relate to declined, refunded or cancelled transactions.

Likewise, do not assume that a missing receipt means no purchase occurred.

When reporting, state that the receipt records a sale linked to particular identifiers unless the wider evidence identifies the purchaser.

Operational takeaway¶

Use receipts to establish the merchant, goods, payment route and timing, then corroborate the identity of the purchaser through merchant, device and physical evidence.