How to Check a Draw Result Step by Step
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Receiving a result link is only the start. The value lies in knowing what to look for.
First, see what was recorded: the tool used, the parameters such as number of winners or number range, the algorithm version and the date. This tells you what kind of draw was run.
Second, look at the seed. It is a hexadecimal value, a long string of letters and digits. You do not need to understand it, but you should know it exists and is published alongside the result.
Third, check the list. To protect participants, names appear masked. Even so, the list fingerprint tells you whether it is the same list used in the draw. If you took part, the name check shows it without revealing the others.
Fourth, use the verification. It redoes the draw in your own browser, using the seed, the list and the algorithm version from the link, and compares it with the published winners. If they match, the draw checks out. If not, the result does not correspond to the data.
Fifth, be wary of what is missing. A result without a seed, a list or an algorithm version cannot be checked, however convincing the screenshot looks.
If you received a result link, open the verification now.