How to block the bank app if your phone is stolen or lost

Losing your phone or having it stolen is a very stressful situation, especially if you have banking apps installed that can give you access to your money. Fortunately, there are several strategies to protect your account and prevent criminals from accessing your financial information. Therefore, in this article, we will explain step by step How to block your bank's app in case of theft or loss, what measures can you take as a preventive measure? and what to do next to minimize risks.

Lock your mobile remotely

The first thing you should do is block access to your phone. On both Android and iPhone, there are tools that allow you to do this remotely:

• Android: If your device has the option “Find my device«, you can locate it, block it and delete its data by accessing android.com/find.
• iPhone: Through the function «Find My iPhone«, you can do the same by entering iCloud.com/find.

It is important that you perform this step before the thief turns off the device or disconnects the internet, since in that case the remote protection will not work.

Contact your bank to block the app

Once the mobile is blocked, the most urgent thing is to prevent them from accessing the banking application. Most banks They offer 24/7 telephone support to address these cases.Follow these steps:

• Call your bank's customer service line and explain the situation.
• Ask for the immediate app blocking and, if possible, your cards.
• Check if they can disable transfers or withdraw money without additional verification.

Some banks allow you to do this from their website, but it is safest to contact them directly to make sure your account is protected.

Block SIM card and IMEI

Thieves may try to receive bank verification SMS, so you can also you must block your number calling the operator.

• Ask for the SIM card blocking to prevent them from accessing verification codes via text.
• If you are not going to recover the device, provide the IMEI number to the operator so that they can completely disableYou can get it by dialing *#06# on another mobile.

Change all your passwords

If the thief gains access to your email, he can reset passwords for other accounts, so You must change the keys of all important services:

• Email.
• Online banking and financial apps.
• Social networks and online stores.

Also, if you don't use it yet two-step authentication, it's a good time to activate it on all your accounts.

Preventive measures to avoid problems

Prevention is always better than cure. Before a theft or loss occurs, follow these tips:

• Activate screen lock with PIN, pattern or biometric recognition.
• Do not store sensitive information in the gallery, such as photos of cards or ID documents.
• Set up two-factor authentication in banks and digital wallets.
• Make regular backups to avoid losing important information.

Don't forget that the public Wi-Fi networks They also pose a security risk, so try to avoid accessing online banking when you are on an open connection.

If you ever lose or have your cell phone stolen, Follow these steps to the letter and you will minimize the risks.The speed with which you act is key to preventing access to your bank information and funds.