🔒 The moment your phone is gone, a thief has almost the same access to your bank account that you do, until you cut it off first.
Everything explained below ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Recommended Content:
WHAT TO DO IF MONEY LEAVES YOUR ACCOUNT WITHOUT APPROVALFAKE TRANSFER ALERT: HOW NIGERIANS CAN STAY SAFE
A stolen phone in Nigeria is rarely just a stolen phone. For most people it is also the device holding OPay, PalmPay, Kuda, or a bank’s own mobile app, plus the SIM that receives every one-time passcode those apps rely on. The gap between the theft and your response is the only window a thief has, and it can close in minutes if you know exactly which numbers to call and which codes to dial, and in what order.
Save This Phone-Theft Emergency Checklist
This guide walks through that order: block the SIM first, since it is the gateway to OTPs and PIN resets, then freeze the banking and wallet apps themselves, then call your bank’s own fraud hotline, and finally, if your bank drags its feet, escalate to the Central Bank of Nigeria. Some of the exact codes below come from secondary reporting rather than each provider’s own published page, so treat this as a fast-action checklist to confirm as you dial, not a replacement for your bank’s live instructions.
Keep Your Long-Term Savings Separate From the Wallet You Use Every Day
YES, SHOW ME MY OPTIONSNOT NOW, THANKS
Step One: Block Your SIM Before You Do Anything Else
Your SIM card is often the fastest route back into your bank account, since most banks and wallets confirm transactions and reset PINs through one-time passcodes sent by SMS. Block it before you do anything else. MTN lines can try *123*7*4# (some sources list it as *123*7#) or call 08031000300, and be ready to confirm your full name, phone number, and NIN. Glo subscribers dial 300 from another Glo line, or call 08050020121 from any other network. Airtel customers dial 300 or 111 from an Airtel line, or call +234 8021500300 or +234 8021520800 from elsewhere. 9mobile users dial 200 from a 9mobile line, call 0809 000 0200 from another network, or reach live chat and care@9mobile.com.ng. These codes come from secondary reporting, not each telco’s own published page, and USSD codes do change, so if one fails, call the telco’s hotline directly rather than assume your SIM is still exposed.
Step Two: Freeze Every Wallet and Banking App on That Phone
Once the SIM is blocked, move to every wallet and banking app that lived on that phone. OPay introduced self-service USSD codes: *955*131# locks the account, *955*132# locks the card. Back these up by calling OPay’s customer care on 018885040 or +234 800 020 0300, messaging WhatsApp +234 916 599 8936, or emailing customerservice@opay-inc.com; OPay’s own security page at opayweb.com/security is the place to confirm current details. PalmPay’s lock code is reported two different ways across sources, *652# and *861#, so treat either as a starting point and confirm with PalmPay support on 0700 PALM HELP (0700 7256 4357) or support@palmpay.com rather than assuming one is correct. Kuda has no confirmed self-serve USSD lock; use the in-app chat under More then Chat With Us, or call 0700022555832 on weekdays. If a Kuda phone theft also means losing your registered number, changing it typically requires an in-person visit to your BVN enrollment bank.
Steps Three and Four: Call Your Bank, Then Escalate to CBN If Nothing Happens
With the SIM and wallet apps locked, call your traditional bank’s fraud or lost-card hotline, the number printed on your card or listed on the bank’s own website, not one found through a random search. Ask them to freeze the account and card immediately, and write down the time, the agent’s name, and any reference number given. CBN’s own complaint-lodgment page states banks should resolve a general complaint within two weeks, and excess-charge or loan-related complaints within thirty days. If your bank misses that window, escalate in writing to CBN’s Consumer Protection Department, including your full name, contact details, the bank’s name, the transaction history, the amount involved, and proof you already complained to the bank first. For confirmed fraud rather than a simple dispute, also file a report with the EFCC, Nigeria’s financial-crimes investigation agency.
| Service | Lock Code / Number | What You’ll Need | Backup Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm OPay’s code before dialing → | Verify PalmPay’s code with support → | Chat with Kuda support → | Find your own bank’s hotline → |
⚠️ A Caller Asking for Your PIN or OTP Is Not Your Bank — Scammers know that phone-theft victims are frightened and in a hurry, and some will call posing as your bank’s or wallet’s fraud team, claiming they need your PIN, OTP, or full BVN to reverse or secure the compromised account. No legitimate Nigerian bank, OPay, PalmPay, or Kuda agent will ever ask for these over a call you did not place yourself. If you get such a call, hang up and redial the number printed on your card or listed on the provider’s own website.
Steps
- Dial or call your network’s SIM-block code right away — MTN, Glo, Airtel, or 9mobile all have one — so a thief loses access to the OTPs that unlock your banking apps.
- Lock every wallet app that was on the phone using its own emergency code or support channel, such as OPay’s *955*131#, PalmPay’s support line, or Kuda’s in-app chat.
- Call your bank’s 24/7 fraud or lost-card hotline to freeze the account and card, and note the time, agent name, and any reference number you’re given.
- If your bank has not resolved things within CBN’s stated timeframe, file a written complaint with CBN’s Consumer Protection Department, attaching proof that you already reported it to the bank first.
Speed Beats Everything Else Here
None of these steps require special technical skill, just the right numbers dialed in the right order, fast. SIM block first, because it closes the OTP gateway. Wallet apps second, because those balances move the quickest. Your bank’s own hotline third, because only the bank can actually freeze the account tied to your card. CBN escalation last, kept in reserve for when the bank itself becomes the obstacle.
It’s worth saving your bank’s real hotline number, OPay’s and PalmPay’s support contacts, and CBN’s complaint-lodgment page somewhere that isn’t only on your phone — a notes app on a second device, a written card, or a trusted family member’s contact list — so a stolen phone doesn’t also take away your ability to respond to it.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if my phone with banking apps is stolen?
Block your SIM card immediately through your network’s USSD code or hotline, since the SIM is usually what receives the one-time passcodes a thief needs to reset your banking PIN or approve a transfer.
How do I lock my OPay account without my phone?
OPay’s reported self-service codes are *955*131# to lock the account and *955*132# to lock the card; if either doesn’t work, contact OPay customer care on 018885040, +234 800 020 0300, or customerservice@opay-inc.com.
Is there a USSD code to lock PalmPay?
Two different codes appear across sources, *652# and *861#, so try one and confirm with PalmPay support on 0700 PALM HELP (0700 7256 4357) or support@palmpay.com rather than assuming either is current.
Kuda has no lock code. What do I do instead?
Use Kuda’s in-app chat (More, then Chat With Us) or call 0700022555832 on weekdays; if your registered phone number was also on the stolen device, changing it may require an in-person visit to your BVN enrollment bank.
How long does my bank have to resolve a fraud complaint?
Per CBN’s own complaint-lodgment page, a general complaint should be resolved within two weeks, and excess-charge or loan-related complaints within thirty days; if that window passes, escalate to CBN’s Consumer Protection Department.
Should I report to the police or EFCC as well as my bank?
For confirmed fraud, yes — report to the EFCC, Nigeria’s financial-crimes investigation agency, in addition to your bank and, if needed, CBN’s Consumer Protection Department.
Sources consulted: legit.ng, businessmetricsng.com, capitalistledger.com, kuda.com, cbn.gov.ng (checked July 2026)
⚠️ Disclaimer
This is an independent information portal, not affiliated with CBN, FCCPC, NIBSS, CAC, EFCC, or any provider named above. We don’t process transactions, loans, or guarantee approval from any provider. Requirements and terms change over time — always confirm current rules through official channels before acting.
Marc Smith is the founder of the Budget Geridibiase blog, where he uses his decade-plus experience as a financial consultant to simplify the world of finance, credit cards, and insurance. His mission is to translate complex topics into practical, accessible advice, empowering readers to make financial decisions with confidence and build a secure economic future.