A screenshot is not automatically the full record
A resident submits a screenshot showing a payment confirmation, while an agency system reports a failed transaction. Authenticity assessment asks what the evidence represents, where it came from and whether it has been altered or misunderstood.
Identify the source
Distinguish original system records, exports, screenshots and summaries.
Preserve context
Timestamps, transaction identifiers, system states and relevant metadata can affect interpretation.
Use proportionate verification
Appropriate logs, authorised records and technical checks may help establish authenticity.
Protect chain of custody
Record relevant handling and transfers under applicable procedures.
Avoid premature conclusions
Conflicting records may reflect different transaction stages rather than deliberate falsification.
Respect privacy and legal requirements
Evidence access, retention and disclosure must follow applicable rules.
Break-test: two authentic records appear contradictory
Can investigators reconstruct the transaction sequence instead of dismissing one record without analysis?
Connected knowledge
See Evidence Chain of Custody, Dispute Resolution Evidence and National Archives of Singapore.