Practical
Lost or stolen phone or cards at night: the first hour
The short answer
Report a lost or stolen card to your bank immediately, then contact your network provider to block the handset and SIM. If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank immediately or report it on 0300 123 2040.
Report any lost or stolen card to your bank immediately. Once a lost or stolen card is reported, it is blocked for shop, online and cash-machine use, and its mobile-wallet payments are suspended.
Stop the cards
Tell your bank the card is lost or stolen.
If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank immediately. You can also report it on 0300 123 2040.
Block the phone and SIM
Contact the network provider about a stolen phone. The provider can block both the handset and the SIM card so that they cannot be used any more.
Use the device tools
For a lost Android device, Google’s Android help provides Find Hub options to find, secure or erase it.
For a stolen iPhone, Find My only helps if it was enabled before the iPhone was stolen. If Find My was not enabled before the theft, Apple says the iPhone cannot be located, marked as lost or remotely erased through Find My.
Related: Lost property in London · Getting home safely at night · Emergency numbers and essential services
Sources
Every statement above rests on a page we opened and checked on 3 October 2026. We are not a medical, legal or emergency service: for an emergency, ring 999.
- Take Five (UK Finance): takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/protect-yourself/card-fraud
- Barclays: barclays.co.uk/help/cards/debit-card/lost-stolen
- nidirect (Northern Ireland government): nidirect.gov.uk/articles/protecting-your-mobile-phone
- Apple Support: support.apple.com/en-us/120837
- Google Help: support.google.com/android/answer/6160491?hl=en
Checked: 3 October 2026