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What if you lose your phone? Is there some sort of recovery mechanism to get your money?

If so, wouldn't it be possible for criminals to social engineer this recovery process, similar to how they use social engineering to steal numbers in the US?

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If you loose your phone then you must walk in to the nearest office of your mobile phone network provider. And there are many across the country (Ghana). No one can do it on your behalf, and you can't do it over the phone or online. You have to physically go to their office with with a valid ID to recover your SIM card.

Even if you don't get to recover your SIM card early enough, anyone with access to your phone must know your wallet PIN code to be able to make transactions

If you loose your phone here in Tanzania, the phone company will require a police report and a copy of a photo ID(passport, drivers licence or national ID card) that matches the lost line and some will additionally ask you to remember the last few calls that was made by the lost line. All the above will have to be done person in one of many branches operated by the phone company.

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