The hidden cost of frictionless payments
Wednesday 9th September, 2026
Faster, simpler digital payments are helping fraudsters, prompting calls for invisible, risk-based security that protects customers without adding unnecessary barriers.
This gives Wise a natural chance to discuss how international payments can stay simple for genuine customers while spotting unusual activity behind the scenes.
1 Source:
Why have we flagged this?
This highlights rising payment fraud and the need for secure, low-friction transfers, giving Wise an opportunity to share its consumer fraud-prevention expertise and protections.
Get reactive idea inspiration
Thinking...
These are starting points for inspiration, not finished ideas.
Data idea
Reveal how many fraud cases involve new recipients
Show the proportion of reported fraud cases involving a recipient the customer had never paid before.
Data to investigate: Analyse your fraud case data to calculate the share involving first-time recipients.
Why: It turns the broad warning about friction and fraud into a clear, highly relevant consumer statistic.
Expert comment
Stop treating every payment as equally risky
Argue that blanket security checks create warning fatigue, while risk-based checks can focus attention on genuinely unusual cross-border payments.
Expert comment angle: Offer this contrarian take to national consumer money desks and explain how payment context should guide intervention.
Why: It challenges the instinct to add more friction everywhere and positions Wise as an expert on safer, simpler international payments.
Expert comment
Make security friction proportional to payment risk
Argue that familiar, low-risk transfers should remain fast while unusual recipients, destinations or amounts trigger stronger checks.
Expert comment angle: Offer this specific view to consumer finance and technology desks through Wise’s fraud or security spokesperson.
Why: It gives journalists a practical alternative to the false choice between seamless payments and strong protection.