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// DO THESE NOW

Lost or stolen phone? Do these things now

Your phone holds your photos, email, banking and security codes — so a lost or stolen one feels frightening. Work calmly through these steps and you’ll protect what matters.

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  • ● First 15 minutes
  • ● Find My & SIM block
  • ● The 2FA problem solved

// THE FIRST 15 MINUTES

Act fast, in this order

  1. 01

    Find, ring or lock it

    From another device, use Find My — iCloud Find My for iPhone or Google Find My Device for Android. Ring it, see it on a map, then mark it as Lost (this locks it and shows a message).

  2. 02

    If it’s gone, lock or erase

    If it’s clearly stolen or unrecoverable, remotely lock it — and consider Erase to wipe your data. (Erasing usually stops you tracking it, so weigh it up.)

  3. 03

    Bar the SIM & block the handset

    Call your mobile provider to bar the SIM and block the phone by its IMEI number, so it can’t be used or sold.

  4. 04

    Change key passwords

    From another device, change passwords for email, banking and anything the phone was signed into.

  5. 05

    Report it

    Report a theft to the police (101 or online) for insurance, and to Action Fraud if any accounts or money are misused.

The 2FA problem — getting back in

If your two-factor codes lived on that phone, you may be locked out of your own accounts. This is where your backup/recovery codes save the day — use them, or each provider’s account-recovery process, to get back in and move 2FA to your new phone. Our guides to 2FA and being hacked walk you through it.

iPhone vs Android — quick reference

Set this up before it ever happens

  • Turn on Find My iPhone or Find My Device today.
  • Set a screen lock (PIN, fingerprint or face).
  • Turn on automatic cloud backup so your photos are safe — see backup & recovery.
  • Note your phone’s IMEI number (dial *#06# to see it) and keep it somewhere safe.

// GOOD QUESTIONS

Frequently asked

Can the police find my phone?

They occasionally can, but don’t go looking for it yourself. Report it, mark it as lost via Find My, and let your provider block it by IMEI.

They have my SIM — can they get my bank codes?

Possibly, which is why you should bar the SIM quickly and change banking passwords from another device. Where you can, use an authenticator app rather than text codes.

Should I erase it or wait?

If there’s sensitive data and little chance of getting it back, erase it. If it might simply be lost nearby, Lost Mode locks it while you keep tracking. There’s no wrong choice made in good faith.

Can you help me set up my new phone?

Yes — we help with mobiles and tablets, moving your data, email and apps across. See mobile & tablet support.

Need a hand sorting it out?

We’ll help you secure your accounts and set up a new phone — calmly and in plain English.

Talk to a Techie Mobile & Tablet Support

01202 775566 · help@365techies.co.uk · MON–FRI 9AM–5PM