An embodiment of the invention provides a method for processing a secure electronic transaction over a network from a sender to a receiver, which includes the process of generating a first unique representation of information included in the transaction, encrypting the information with a first encryption layer, and forming an encryption packet which includes the first encryption layer. The encryption packet is then transmitted over a network and then received the by a receiver. The authenticity of the encryption packet is verified and a receipt is generated using the information included in the encryption packet. The receipt is then transmitted to an electronic postmark server which verifies authenticity of the receipt. A postmarked receipt is then created by the electronic postmark server and a copy is sent to the sender an/or the receiver.