This article offers you a a step by step guide for what to do when your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged while traveling and how to get reconnected again.
Smartphones have become extensions of ourselves and the feelings associated phone loss can be tremendously unnerving and frustrating. I am talking about heart racing, adrenaline sweats, brain fog, tight throat, not to mention the feelings of guilt, shame, stupidity, anger, fear, and vulnerability. And topped off with the anxiety that can someone access personal information, basically your life, and the loss of irreplaceable memories.
Let me tell you from someone who has been through my fair share of technology while traveling…
it will be okay.
I am not a tech savvy person, but I have been through this enough to have a solid idea of what to do now. Just to give you some backhistory, here is a list of my lost, stolen, or damaged devices while traveling.
2017
Phone 1: iPhone fell from my back pocket into a western style toilet – Arusha, Tanzania.
iPad Pro: Hurling myself into a crowded taxi at 5:45 am after a pre-scheduled taxi never showed for a 6 am bus, hit my head on the car frame, and the iPad was lifted from my open backpack in the taxi, I made it to the bus on time though. – Chipati, Zambia.
2018
Phone 2: Carrying beers to the table and left it on a bar counter (my hands were full) – Cape Town, South Africa.
Phone 3: Water damage while running to my hostel during Monsoon rains in India. The phone was in my open raincoat pocket and vibrated until it completely sizzled out. I was scheduled for a 10 day mediation retreat the next day that didn’t allow phones and evacuated two days later because of flooding. I purchased a new device a week later – Allepey, India.
2020
Phone 4: Smartphone aged out despite several factory resets. Unfortunatley these consumer devices are designed to have a lifespan of 2-3 years before needing an upgrade.
Phone 5: Inherited a cracked screen Android phone from my 19 year old niece-in-law just days before lockdown in the Botswana bush and got stuck with it for the next year since replacements were hard to come by at the time.
2021
Phone 6 & 7: Bought and returned two Google Pixel 4’s because the batteries ran hot within two days (factory failure).
Phone 8: Tried and true.
See a pattern?
Urgency, chaos, emotions, distractions, or alcohol. Were all these avoidable? Yep. Most of them at least.
Most travel mishaps occur when we are:
1. not being mindful of our surroundings or
2. not being mindful of ourselves and our bodies (like tripping when you’re tired or carrying too many things at once and dropping something).
Accidents and things out of our control happen, but most are preventable by slowing down – I have learned these lessons the hard way.
What to Do When Your Smartphone is Lost, Damaged or Stolen
Despite taking precautions, losing your smartphone can disrupt your travels and your state of mind. The possibility that this very personal piece of equipment is in someone else’s hands can feel violating. Here’s a step-by-step guide to handle such situations with cool confidence.
Remain Calm
First and foremost stay calm. Take a deep breath and refocus. Panicking won’t help the situation.
Repeating a mantra like, “breathe more, worry less,” “accidents happen” or “everything is replacable” is helpful to center yourself during trying travel times.
Get Online
Seek out a local library, internet café, a coworking space, a travel companion’s phone or tablet, a hotel, or hostel, anywhere you can get access online.
Reach Out for Assistance
Seek out a service store if your phone is damaged rather than lost or stolen. They can inspect your phone to confirm whether it is hopelessly broken or whether it can be repaired. Keep the receipts and paperwork for the insurance later.
Contact your family or friends and let them know the situation you are in. Let them know how to reach you through email or social media.
Only reach out to people in your circle you know will be helpful and resourceful in this scenario. AVOID those who make you feel guilty, ashamed, or worse about the situation you are in.
If Your Phone is Lost or Stolen:
Get insight into the real-time location for your phone. Find My iPhone (iOS) or Find My Device (Android) to track and see where it is. If you know there is a chance of recovery such as an Uber or a restaurant reach out to them first. As a preventative step, share you location with a friend or family member through google maps.
Call your number, send messages to yourself several times before moving forward. Apple allows you mark your phone as lost in your iCloud account and write a “lock message” that can include a contact number in case someone finds it.
If recovery is not possible…
Secure Your Data Remotely
Remote lock it or wipe it to safeguard your information.
Instructions for Apple devices:
1. Follow https://icloud.com/find and log into your iCloud account.
2. Go to All Devices and choose the device you want to erase.
3. Click on Erase iPhone.
Instructions for Android devices:
1. Follow https://www.google.com/android/find/ and sign into your Google account.
2. Look on the left-side menu and you can choose to secure your device or factory reset device.
Create or Log Into Your Skype Account
In Essential phone prep steps for international travel, having a Skype account is incredibly useful. If you don’t already have one, make one and add $10 into it.
Skype allows you to make international calls over wifi so you are not incuring large calling fees. You can contact all the neccessary important numbers such as your phone carrier, financial institutions, and later travel insurance.
These contacts cannot call you back on the number you are calling from. However Skype offers a program where you can pay a low monthly fee to receive a phone number in the country of your choice (choose your home country where these companies are based) to receive incoming calls as well.
GoogleFi does this too.
Contact Your Carrier
Inform your mobile carrier if you have a contract about the loss or theft of your phone to suspend service and prevent unauthorized usage or charges on your account.
For two-step verfications attached to the phone number for banking, email, or reservation services, ask them for the best ways to arrange a new SIM card with the SAME number. Be patient and kind- you get more honey than vinegar.
Getting a new SIM may only be possible when you are back home. Alternativley, you can ask if a friend can collect and activate a new SIM by bringing in a certified copy of your ID or if there is a possiblity they will ship it to you.
If you have an eSIM like Airalo it will be difficult to recover your number since the eSIM is tied to your smartphone’s hardware, however it is quite easy to establish a new one.
Update Your Security
Change your primary passwords for your email, banking details, and social accounts. Two-step verifications make this more complicated. Once again stay calm and contact the help desks to get you set back up again.
If you have 2FA established with the Authy app on your lost or stolen phone, you should be able to get a new phone, sign into your Authy App, and be reconnected fairly easily.
Get a Police Report
If your phone is stolen, report the incident to local law enforcement, ideally within 24 hours. Give them the IMEI number (the serial number of your phone), and obtain a copy of the police report. There is a tiny chance they will help collect your phone if you have the Find My Device tracker on, but unlikely.
The police report is primarily meant to file an insurance claim.
If you are traveling fast and bouncing from one place to the next, take the time to go to the police before leaving the city or country to file the report. This will save you a lot of headache down the line when you try to recoup your losses.
Consider Budget Replacements
Research local stores or authorized dealers for affordable replacement options, prioritizing functionality over brand names. Ask locals which brands are commonly used there and where to buy them. There may be a local online delivery service like Amazon that offers good deals on electronics.
There are certain countries where iPhone and higher end smartphone models are far more expensive because of high import taxes. Replacing an iPhone can cost several hundred dollars more than in the USA or Europe.
Apple seemlessly gets users reconnected and brand loyal (coming from a former Apple user). If you are an iPhone user, consider purchasing a used iPhone to help with the migration of your information and then upgrade when you get back home.
Instead of impulsively replacing your expensive phone with a similar model, opt for an inexpensive alternative. These can offer reasonable prices without compromising on features. GSM Arena website offers side by side tech option comparisons.
Lastly, make sure to purchase an unlocked phone without a contract.
Purchase and Register a Local Pre-Paid SIM
If this is your first time setting up a pre-paid SIM, find out what the best network is in the region and ask the vendor for help setting it up. Have your passport available to register a local SIM and it may only be done in certain facilities. Purchase airtime or a data bundle and make sure it is working correctly prior to leaving the shop.
Ask for USSD numbers and how to navigate the specific carrier’s menu to be able to add data or airtime later on independently.
Adjust Communication Methods & Phone Setup
Download and establish your apps again. Here are my top 30 travel apps to help you get reestablished.
Sign in and establish new passwords.
***I would highly recommend setting up your new phone over wifi to preserve your data.
Contact Your Travel Insurance Provider
Notify your travel insurance provider as soon as possible to initiate the claims process for potential reimbursement or coverage.
If you didn’t purchase travel insurance, check your credit card company policies that you booked the trip on. Often times they have insurance for lost or stolen goods. There is a possibility you can receive a full or partial reimbursment.
Stay Organized
Keep all receipts, documentation, and communication related to the loss or theft of your phone organized in one place. This helps to facilitate the claims process with your travel insurance provider or mobile carrier. You can photograph it and upload it to the cloud, but make sure you know how to access it when they ask for it.
Monitor Financial and Reservation Accounts
Regularly monitor your bank, credit card, and crypto accounts for any suspicious activity following the loss or theft of your phone and report any unauthorized transactions immediately to your banks.
This also includes apps with saved payment options like PayPal, Venmo, AirBnB, booking.com, Uber… any app that is linked to a money account.
Learn from Experience
Trust me, these experiences will hopefully make a good travel story later. However, use this experience as a learning opportunity for future trips.
- What could I have done differently?
- How would I prevent the incident the next time?
- How could I prepare myself better ahead of time?
At the beginning I brought up a slew of generally self imposed mishaps and snafus that led to the damage, loss, and theft of my devices. However, I must address the unfortunate and very scary possibilities as well.
If You Are Threatened and Robbed
Your personal safety is far more valuable than any device. Stay calm and give up your phone.
Don’t pursue the perpetrator. Find a safe and public place to regroup.
Follow the same steps and seek out emotional support.
This can happen to anyone. I know several seasoned travelers who have fallen victim to this. Recently, one travel photographer was robbed at gunpoint during the day near a busy public park. She expressed how traumatizing the run in was, how victimized she felt, while also expressing her frustration for not having backed up her photos.
Essential Phone Safety & Etiquette While Traveling gives you preventative techniques to hopefully avoid these situations and feel confident in future travels.
While technology enhances our travel experiences, it’s essential to stay mindful and prepared for any hurdles along the way.
Remember smartphones have only been commonplace for 15 some years. We humans have traveled the world long before.
You can get through this!
2 Responses
I lost my A13 Galaxy outside a night spot in Miami, Florida,
Someone grabbed it after it fell from my backpack,
He did not return it!
I left without my phone,
Sorry to hear that. It sucks, I’ve been there. I hope this article helped you get set up again.