July 15, 2026

My Phone Was Stolen — What Do I Do Right Now?

1. Try to locate it immediately

Before anything else, check if you still have a way to see where it is. If you had a tracking app installed beforehand, open it on another device now — the sooner you check, the more likely the phone is still online and reachable.

2. Lock it or wipe it

If you can reach the device remotely, lock the screen first. This buys time without destroying anything. If you're confident it's gone for good, or it holds sensitive information you can't risk, wipe it instead.

3. Contact your carrier

Call your carrier to suspend service on the SIM. This stops calls, texts, and mobile data being used on your account, and protects you if the SIM is later swapped into another device.

4. Change your passwords

Starting with email and anything using SMS-based two-factor authentication, change your passwords from a different device. A phone often has active sessions logged into email, banking, and social accounts — those need to be cut off, not just the phone itself.

5. File a police report

You'll need your IMEI number for this — check your original box, receipt, or purchase email if you don't have it memorized. A report is often required for insurance claims, and gives police something to act on if the device resurfaces.

6. Notify your bank if payment apps were installed

If you had banking or payment apps on the phone, call your bank to flag the device as compromised, even if you've already locked it remotely.

Why speed matters here

GSMA's device registry — the industry-wide database carriers use to block stolen phones — flags more than 15 million lost or stolen devices a year globally. The gap between theft and action is exactly where outcomes diverge: a phone with live tracking already running gives you a real head start on steps 1 through 3, versus starting from zero once it's already gone.

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