Scam in United KingdomTheft
Phone snatching in United Kingdom
How it works
Thieves snatch phones, often while riding fast-moving mopeds. They may then try to access personal information and banking apps.
Warning signs
- Your phone is exposed in your hand near passing traffic.
- A moped rider approaches close to you.
How to avoid it
- Put your phone away when you are not using it.
- Step away from the road before checking directions.
- Enable your phone's security and anti-theft features.
- Use strong locks for your phone and banking apps.
If it happens to you
Do not chase the thief. Use another device to lock your phone remotely, contact your mobile provider and alert your bank if banking access may be at risk.
- Move to a safe, busy place. Do not chase a thief or confront anyone carrying a weapon.
- Call 999 or 112 if you are threatened, injured or being held against your will. For a crime that does not need an emergency response, call 101.
- Freeze missing cards and contact your card issuer about unauthorised or forced payments. If your phone was stolen, lock it remotely and contact your mobile provider.
- Save receipts, booking details, messages and payment records. Write down the location, time and what happened while you remember it.
- Report the incident to the relevant police or transport staff. Ask for a report reference and contact your insurer.
- If your passport is missing, contact your embassy or consulate through its official contact details.
What travellers report
Posts about this scam on other sites, summarised in our words. Open one to read the original.
- Redditr/london2022My phone was stolen just minutes after arrivingAn Australian tourist reports an electric-bike rider colliding with them and snatching their phone outside London Bridge station shortly after arrival.Read on Reddit
- Redditr/uktravel2024Is London phone snatching real? Do people’s phones get snatched from hands/tripods/bag theft?Visitors and residents recount phones being grabbed from their hands by cyclists and moped riders in London.Read on Reddit
- TripadvisorLondon ForumCell phone snatching at oxford street london - London ForumA visitor reports witnessing two bicycle riders snatch their daughter’s phone during the family’s first London visit.Read on Tripadvisor
Questions
What is the phone snatching scam in United Kingdom?
Thieves snatch phones, often while riding fast-moving mopeds. They may then try to access personal information and banking apps.
How can I spot it early?
Your phone is exposed in your hand near passing traffic. A moped rider approaches close to you.
How do I avoid phone snatching in United Kingdom?
Put your phone away when you are not using it. Step away from the road before checking directions. Enable your phone's security and anti-theft features. Use strong locks for your phone and banking apps.
What should I do if it happens to me?
Do not chase the thief. Use another device to lock your phone remotely, contact your mobile provider and alert your bank if banking access may be at risk.
Where in United Kingdom does this happen?
Streets. It has been reported in London.
How common is this scam in United Kingdom?
Common. The United Kingdom is generally safe to visit, but tourists can face theft, street cons and misleading prices. London has several scams aimed at visitors, including rigged street games, ticket-machine theft and costly currency exchange. Watch your phone, refuse pushy offers and check prices before paying.
Are there similar scams in United Kingdom?
Yes: pickpocketing, knifepoint robbery and bicycle theft, car theft.
Who can I report it to?
Emergency services: call 999 or 112 for an immediate serious threat to life or safety. Ask for the service you need and give your exact location, including the town or city. Local police: call 101 to report a crime or concern that does not need an emergency response. In London, the Metropolitan Police covers most of the city; the City of London Police covers the City of London. British Transport Police: speak to an officer or station staff about railway incidents. For the tissue-selling scam on trains, text 61016 when above ground. ATM premises or bank: tell staff if a machine has suspicious attachments or appears altered. Also report it to police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. Do not try to remove a device. Card issuer or bank: use the official banking app or a verified contact number to freeze cards and report suspicious, unauthorised or forced payments. Mobile provider: use the provider's official contact channel to report a stolen phone and block the SIM. Embassy or consulate: contact your country's embassy or consulate through its official contact details if your passport is stolen or you need document assistance. Travel insurer or rental company: report the loss through their official claims or support channel. Keep the police reference, receipts and supporting records.
What number do I call in an emergency in United Kingdom?
Emergency police, ambulance, fire and rescue: 999, Alternative emergency number: 112, Non-emergency police: 101.
Reviewed by @snuck