Thummer

By Michael Harlow · Published November 13, 2026 · About 6 minutes to read

Phone Stolen Abroad: A Step-by-Step Plan

Losing a phone in another country, along with your maps, boarding pass and bank text codes, is rough. Most of the fix can be done from a borrowed phone or a hotel computer. Here's the order.

First: stay safe, and don't chase

Don't try to get the phone back yourself. AT&T's guide for travelers says not to confront the thief, and Apple says that if a stolen device shows up somewhere unfamiliar, you should contact local law enforcement rather than go after it. If you're hurt or threatened, call local emergency services first.

The first hour

1. Lock the phone remotely

Android. The fastest route is android.com/lock: enter your phone number, pass the security check, and lock the screen. Google says Remote Lock only works if you'd already set up a screen lock, Find Hub, an active SIM and a verified number. Next, open Find Hub in a browser at android.com/find or in the Find Hub app, select the phone and choose Mark as lost, which locks it with your PIN, pattern or password. Google's own checklist says securing the phone this way also signs you out of your Google Account and can remove cards from Google Wallet. Our Android theft protection explainer covers these features in more detail.

iPhone. Go to icloud.com/find or open Find My on another Apple device and turn on Lost Mode. Apple says Lost Mode locks the device with your passcode and suspends Apple Pay cards and passes. For a stolen phone, Apple advises not adding contact details to the lock-screen message, and not removing the phone from Find My, because that turns off Activation Lock.

Don't erase yet. Google calls remote erase a last resort, and Apple says erasing can't be undone.

2. Call your carrier from abroad

Suspending your line stops someone else from using your number, including receiving the security codes your bank texts you. Ask about blocking the handset too. Google says a carrier can block the IMEI so the phone won't work on its network even with a different SIM. (If you don't have the IMEI written down, Android users can find it at android.com/find under Settings next to the device.)

Here's what the three big U.S. carriers say on their own pages:

3. Freeze cards and change key passwords

Call your bank or use its website to freeze any card linked to the phone. Google suggests contacting your bank or card issuer so they can freeze or cancel cards. Then change your Google Account or Apple Account password. Apple says to do this right away if Find My wasn't on. Our guide to how thieves drain bank apps explains why speed matters here.

File a local police report, in writing

Report the theft to local police and ask for a written copy or a case number. Google notes that a police report is often necessary for an insurance claim, and police may ask for your phone's serial number or IMEI.

Don't wait. In its guidance on stolen luggage, U.S. travel-protection provider Generali Global Assistance says you'll often need a written police report for a theft claim, and that it's important to get it within 24 hours. Your own policy's deadline may differ, so check it.

Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate if you need help

The State Department's page for crime victims abroad (updated January 2025) says consular staff can replace a lost or stolen passport, contact family, friends or employers in accordance with the Privacy Act, give you a list of local English-speaking lawyers, ask local authorities for updates on your case, and explain financial-assistance options. They can't investigate crimes, act as your lawyer or interpreter, or pay your expenses.

If you can't reach the nearest embassy in an emergency, the State Department lists 888-407-4747 from the U.S. or Canada and 202-501-4444 from other countries. Consular officers are available 24 hours a day for emergencies.

Getting a replacement phone or eSIM abroad

Don't count on your carrier shipping a phone to you. AT&T says it can't ship a phone while you're outside the U.S. and suggests buying a prepaid SIM card and an inexpensive phone at a local store.

If you buy a new iPhone and want your number on it, Apple's eSIM Quick Transfer needs the old phone nearby and unlocked, so it won't help here. Apple doesn't cover the stolen-phone case directly, but it says a carrier can set up an eSIM through eSIM Carrier Activation or a QR code, so ask your carrier which option it offers.

Travel insurance and phone insurance claims

First check that your policy covers phones at all; Generali, for example, says its plans don't cover replacing phones. Then collect your paperwork while you're still in the country:

Carrier or Apple coverage is a separate claim. AT&T Protect Advantage customers can file at phoneclaim.com/att once they're home. Verizon says customers with Verizon Mobile Protect and some other protection plans file a claim with Asurion. T-Mobile customers with device protection can file a claim for a replacement. Apple says AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss covers a replacement claim.

Getting back into accounts protected by two-step codes

If your text-message codes went to the stolen phone, you have options. Google recommends signing out of the lost phone and changing your password, then signing in with a backup: a saved backup code, a second phone, a security key or a passkey. Google also suggests asking your carrier to move your number to a new phone or SIM.

For an Apple Account you can't reset, Apple offers account recovery, which can take several days or longer; Apple Support can't speed it up.

Before your next trip

Much of this works only if set up in advance: Find Hub and Remote Lock on Android, Find My and Stolen Device Protection on iPhone, backup codes stored off the phone, and your IMEI and carrier's international number written down. See our holiday travel phone-safety checklist and city guides such as London and Barcelona. Some Android users also add an app for the moment of the grab; one option is Thummer, which locks an unlocked phone within five seconds if the owner's thumb lifts off an on-screen bubble.

The bottom line

Lock the phone, call your carrier, freeze your cards and get a written police report the same day. Keep every piece of paper for your claim. Our first-10-minutes checklist covers the opening minutes in more detail.