Does a receipt identify the purchaser?¶
Not by itself. A receipt records how a merchant documented a sale or payment event, while purchaser identity requires additional evidence.
Receipt fields describe transaction context¶
They may include merchant, items, time, amount, method, masked card, terminal, order and till operator. Online receipts can add account, billing and delivery. Another person can use the card, account, loyalty number or email, and automated delivery of a receipt does not show who purchased.
Corroborate person and outcome¶
Preserve the original and recovery context. Obtain till, order, transaction, login and CCTV records and compare card or bank data, endpoints, delivery or collection and possession of goods.
Check status because receipts can accompany declines, cancellations or refunds. Report the recorded sale and identifiers unless wider evidence establishes purchaser.
The point to remember
Use receipts to establish merchant, goods, route and timing, then identify the purchaser from merchant, endpoint and physical evidence.
