Stolen Wallet While Travelling: What to Do in the First 30 Minutes

The first thirty minutes

1. Freeze every card in your banking apps. Freezing is reversible, so do it immediately and sort out the details later.
2. Check recent transactions and report anything you did not make.
3. Move any remaining money into an account that is not linked to a stolen card.
4. Call the numbers for cards you cannot freeze in an app.

The police report

Insurers almost always need a police report, and often within a set number of hours. Report it as a theft, describe what was taken, and keep the reference number somewhere other than your phone.

Getting money quickly

• Emergency cash advance through your bank, sometimes collectable at a partner branch
• A money transfer from someone at home, collected with ID at an agent location
• A digital wallet on your phone, if the card is already stored there
• Your embassy, in genuine destitution cases, though this is a last resort and usually a loan

If your ID was in it

A stolen wallet often means a stolen driving licence or ID card too, and sometimes a passport. Report those separately so they cannot be used, and check our lost passport guide for the replacement process.