Do this now: Borrow any phone and dial *955*131# to freeze your OPay account. If your OPay card is also missing, dial *955*132# separately to block the card. Blocking the account does not automatically block the card, so if both are gone, you need both codes. Have your OPay account number and your payment PIN ready.
If you’ve just lost your phone, do the codes above first and read the rest afterwards. Everything else on this page can wait a few minutes. Freezing the account can’t.
Blocking Your OPay Account: Step by Step
You don’t need your own phone for this. Any phone will do, including a basic button phone, and it works on MTN, Airtel, Glo, and T2 (formerly 9mobile).
- Dial *955*131# and press call.
- You’ll see two options: Stop debit transactions and Resume debit transactions. Choose Stop debit transactions.
- You’ll be asked whether this is for Self or Others. If you’re on someone else’s phone, choose Others.
- Enter your OPay account number. This is your registered phone number without the leading zero, so 0801 234 5678 becomes 8012345678.
- Enter your payment PIN when prompted. This is what proves you’re the account owner.
- Wait for the confirmation message.
Once it goes through, no money can leave the account. Transfers, airtime purchases, bill payments, all of it stops, even for whoever is holding your phone.
If you happen to still have your SIM, putting it in a spare phone and dialling from your own registered line is the smoothest route. But don’t wait around for that. The code works from any line.
Blocking Your OPay Card
If your OPay debit card is missing, whether alone or along with your phone, block it separately:
- Dial *955*132#.
- Follow the prompts on screen.
- Wait for the confirmation.
This is worth repeating because it catches people out: freezing your account and blocking your card are two different actions. Doing one doesn’t do the other. If both your phone and your card are gone, run both codes.
The Rest of the First Hour
Your OPay money is safe once the account is frozen. Now close the other doors.
1. Block your SIM with your network
Call MTN, Airtel, Glo, or T2 and report the line stolen. This matters more than most people realise, because your SIM is what receives the OTPs for every other app you use. Ask for the line to be barred and request a replacement SIM with the same number.
2. Check your other money apps
OPay is rarely the only thing on a Nigerian phone. Go through whatever else you had logged in: PalmPay, Moniepoint, Kuda, your commercial bank app, any savings or crypto app. Log in from another device and change your passwords, or call each provider to freeze the account. Most banks have their own emergency block codes, and your bank’s customer care line will handle it if you don’t know yours.
3. Secure your WhatsApp
Whoever has your phone can message everyone you know while pretending to be you, and asking your contacts for money is the standard next move. Reregister WhatsApp on another phone with your number to sign the other person out, then turn on two-step verification so they can’t come back. Tell your contacts what happened by any channel you can.
4. Report to the police
Get a police report, or at least an extract. Some providers ask for one before they’ll reissue a SIM or investigate a disputed transaction, and it costs you nothing to have it on file.
5. Contact OPay support directly
Even after the USSD block, tell OPay what happened. Dial *955*9# to reach customer care, or use the in-app support or their website. If any money left the account before you froze it, this is where you raise the dispute, and doing it early matters.
How to Unblock Later
If the phone turns up or you get a replacement SIM, dial *955*131# again and choose Resume debit transactions, then follow the prompts.
Some users find that unblocking needs a support call rather than the USSD menu, particularly if the block was placed from a line that isn’t yours. If the code doesn’t restore access, dial *955*9# and go through identity verification with OPay support. Either way, don’t unblock until you’re confident the phone or card isn’t still in someone else’s hands.
Save These Codes Before You Need Them
| What you need | Code |
|---|---|
| Freeze your OPay account | *955*131# |
| Block your OPay card | *955*132# |
| OPay customer care | *955*9# |
| Main OPay USSD menu | *955# |
Save these in a contact, write them somewhere physical, or tell a family member. When your phone is gone, so is every note you kept on it. Providers do occasionally change short codes, so if one ever fails, check OPay’s official channels rather than trusting a random blog.
Making Yourself Harder to Rob Next Time
- Turn on app lock in OPay. Requiring a fingerprint or PIN to open the app buys you time even if the phone is unlocked.
- Use a strong screen lock. A four-digit code someone can shoulder-surf at a POS stand is not much of a barrier.
- Don’t keep your whole balance in one wallet. Spread it, or move most of it into a savings pocket that takes an extra step to withdraw from.
- Never read out an OTP. OPay will not call and ask for your PIN or OTP. Nobody legitimate will. End the call.
- Know your account number by heart. It’s your phone number minus the zero, and you’ll need it under pressure.
If it’s specifically a card you’ve lost rather than a phone, our guide on what to do immediately when your ATM card goes missing covers the wider steps, and a few general phone security habits are worth building in before you need them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block my OPay account without my own SIM?
Yes. Dial *955*131# from any phone on any Nigerian network, choose the option for others, and enter your OPay account number and payment PIN.
Does blocking my account also block my OPay card?
No. They’re separate. Use *955*131# for the account and *955*132# for the card.
What is my OPay account number?
It’s your registered phone number without the leading zero, giving you ten digits.
Is there a charge for blocking my account?
OPay doesn’t charge for the block itself, though your network may apply its usual small USSD session fee.
Can I still receive money while my account is frozen?
The block stops debits, meaning money going out. Incoming transfers generally still land, but you won’t be able to move anything until you unblock.
What if money was already taken before I blocked it?
Report it to OPay immediately through *955*9# or in-app support, and get a police report. Raising a dispute quickly gives you the best chance of anything being recovered, though there’s no guarantee.
Losing a phone in Nigeria is bad enough without losing your money with it. *955*131# for the account, *955*132# for the card. Save them somewhere that isn’t your phone, and share this with someone who’d need it in a hurry.
