Prevent further losses: Always keep the hotline number of your mobile service provider handy when travelling abroad, and report a lost phone immediately.

Travellers should immediately report the loss of their mobile phones to their service providers to avoid unexpected roaming charges, the Office of Telecommunications Authority says.

Always keep the hotline number of the mobile service provider handy when travelling abroad, it said.

The OFTA said a mobile phone is as valuable as a credit card, and a bill is charged to the account holder regardless of who made the phone calls.

If a roaming-active mobile phone is lost, the owner may have to pay the roaming service charges for any unauthorised use, it warned.

The OFTA reminded phone owners to note that some service providers only accept a loss report from the subscriber. Others may accept a loss report by a third party, provided that his/her own personal identification and that of the subscriber can be provided.