Young Australians are increasingly being stung by costly phone bills from lost or stolen phones and excessive roaming charges racked up while travelling overseas. With London recently dubbed a global hub for phone theft, it’s also affecting younger travellers more than older tourists.
According to The New York Times, MET Police reports show that a record 80,000 phones were stolen in London last year, leaving the city with the undesirable title of European phone theft capital.
Many unsuspecting tourists and locals often walk around on London streets absorbed in their phones, making it easy for phone thieves on eBikes to mount paths and swipe them quickly.
Australian eSIM and travel SIM provider SimCorner reveals that almost one in three (27%) Aussies aged 18–26 have lost their phone overseas with one-third reporting it stolen. In comparison, only six per cent of travellers over 65 reported a lost phone.
Roaming charges on the rise
In addition, one in six (16%) of Aussies has been stung with a roaming phone bill over $100 and six per cent have faced more than $300 in charges.
A travel SIM or eSIM will help keep costs down while travelling and avoid bill shock from excessive roaming charges when you return home.
Decoy phones are a go
SimCorner’s research also found a significant increase in Aussie travellers not taking their everyday phone abroad in 2025, moving from 12 per cent in 2024 to 23 per cent.
Almost one-quarter (23%) of Aussies now use an older phone rather than their everyday mobile while travelling abroad to stay connected.
While older travellers are playing it safe (30 per cent now pack an old phone for their overseas trips), younger Aussies are paying the price for staying connected with only 14 per cent of travellers aged 18–26 taking an alternative phone.
Want more safety tips? Check out these 10 iPhone travel hacks.
