What should you do if you receive a message on Telegram (either in a DM on in a private group chat), that is abusive, incriminating, or indicative of criminal intent?

Show it to someone else? Report it to the authorities? Or just simply take a screenshot of it?

We can probably all agree that it is a very natural human behavior to take a screenshot of a weird/suspicious/incriminating conversation or message, just to have it as insurance, for your future self. The issue is that a screenshot is not a good and verifiable piece evidence in this day and age, given that anyone can easily fabricate a screenshot with any content whatsoever.

Also, if you report it to the authorities, you risk them confiscating your phone and access all of your other messages in there.

If you show it to someone else, you risk making them unwilling witnesses to a potential crime.

None of these options are good.