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| Learn how to quickly freeze your OPay account and block your linked card if your phone is stolen. |
If your phone is stolen, dial `*955*131#` from any other phone immediately to freeze your OPay account, then dial `*955*132#` to block your linked card. Both codes work instantly, without needing internet or your original SIM. Here's everything else you need to do afterward to fully secure your money and identity.
Why Every Second Counts
Your phone isn't just a communication device anymore — for most Nigerians, it's a mobile bank. Once a thief has your device, they have two potential paths into your OPay wallet:
- - USSD access: If your SIM is still active in the stolen phone, a thief can attempt to use OPay's USSD menu, which typically relies only on your transaction PIN.
- - App access: If your OPay app was left logged in, a thief may attempt to bypass your PIN, especially if it's weak or reused elsewhere.
Blocking your account isn't the same as just locking your phone screen — it's the only step that stops both of these paths at the source.
Step 1: Freeze Your OPay Account and Card via USSD
These are OPay's own emergency security codes, confirmed on the company's official X/Twitter account and still active as of this update. Dial them from any phone, on any network — you don't need your original SIM.
| Action | Code | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Block your OPay account/wallet | 955131# | Freezes all outbound transactions instantly |
| Block your OPay card | 955132# | Blocks ATM/POS use separately from the wallet |
Important: Blocking your account does not automatically block your linked card, and vice versa. Do both.
How to use them:
1. Borrow any phone — the network doesn't matter.
2. Dial `*955*131#`.
3. Follow the prompts, entering the phone number linked to your OPay account.
4. Confirm the freeze.
5. Repeat with `*955*132#` to lock your card.
Save both codes somewhere outside your phone — a physical note, or a cloud document you can access from any device — since you obviously can't check your phone for them once it's gone.
Step 2: Call OPay to Confirm and Report
After the USSD freeze, formally report the theft so OPay can document it and begin the recovery process.
- Hotline: 0700 8888 328 or 020 18888 328
- - What to say: Confirm your phone was stolen, that you've already used the USSD block codes, and ask the agent to verify and maintain the freeze.
- - Be ready to verify: your full name, last transaction amount, or last funding date.
If the lines are busy, OPay's WhatsApp support (+234 916 599 8936) is a documented alternative — send your full name, the affected phone number, and the time of the theft.
Step 3: Block Your SIM Card
Your SIM is the key to both your OPay account and any bank OTPs tied to that number.
- - Call your network provider (MTN, Airtel, Glo, or 9mobile) and request an immediate SIM block.
- - Visit a branch with valid ID (NIN slip, driver's license, etc.) to request a SIM swap once you're ready to reclaim your number.
For a network-specific walkthrough, see our MTN SIM retrieval guide.
Step 4: Secure the Device Itself
- - Android: Use Google's Find My Device to lock the phone remotely, display a message, or erase it entirely.
- - iPhone: Use Apple's Find My iPhone via iCloud.com to mark it as Lost or wipe it remotely.
For a deeper walkthrough on tracking and locking a lost Android device, see our complete guide to finding a lost Android phone.
Step 5: Change Every Password Tied to That Phone
Your phone likely has quick access to more than just OPay:
- - Email first — this is usually the recovery key for everything else.
- - Other banking apps (GTBank, Zenith, etc.)
- - Social media accounts
For broader protection of your banking details and BVN, see our guide on protecting your BVN and bank details from fraudsters.
Recovering Your OPay Account
Once you've secured a replacement SIM with your original number:
1. Call the OPay hotline (0700 8888 328) and confirm you have your number back.
2. Complete identity verification (NIN/BVN, last transaction details).
3. Once verified, the agent unfreezes your account — you may be asked to reset your PIN.
Preventing This Before It Happens
The following are practical precautions, not official OPay policy — treat them as good habits rather than guaranteed protections:
- - Enable Face ID or fingerprint login on the OPay app.
- - Use a transaction PIN that's different from your phone's unlock PIN.
- - Never save your PIN in notes, SMS, or cloud storage.
- - Set a **SIM PIN** through your phone's settings (Settings → Mobile Network → SIM PIN) — this stops a thief from moving your SIM into another phone to intercept OTPs, even after they have your device.
FAQ
What's the fastest way to block a stolen OPay account?
Dial `*955*131#` from any phone immediately — no internet or original SIM needed.
Does blocking my account also block my card?
No. Dial `*955*132#` separately to block your OPay card.
Can I use these codes on any network?
Yes — they work regardless of which network the phone you're using belongs to, as long as you know the phone number linked to your OPay account.
How do I get my OPay account unfrozen?
Get your original number back via a SIM swap, then call OPay's hotline and complete identity verification.
Should I also block my SIM card?
Yes — do this alongside the OPay block, since your SIM controls OTPs for other accounts too.
Conclusion
Losing your phone is stressful, but it doesn't have to mean losing your money. Memorize `*955*131#` and `*955*132#` now — before you ever need them — and pair that with a SIM PIN and strong, unique transaction PIN as ongoing protection.
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