Most small healthcare practice owners do not calculate how much their payment setup actually costs them. WriteUpp, the practice management software used by more than 50,000 health and wellness professionals in the UK, Ireland, and Canada, launched WriteUpp Pay this month — and it directly addresses one of the most overlooked financial problems in independent clinical practice.

There is the card terminal lease or purchase, the transaction fees on a separate billing platform, the staff time spent reconciling payments against invoices, and the revenue lost when patients leave without settling a balance. Add it up across a year, and the number tends to be uncomfortable.

WriteUpp Pay turns an iPhone or Android device into a contactless payment terminal using built-in NFC technology, pulling appointment and invoice data directly from WriteUpp to process payments at the point of care. No card reader. No hardware purchase. No separate reconciliation process.

For solo practitioners and small clinic owners operating on tight margins, the proposition is direct. Your phone is already in your pocket. It can now take payments.

What Independent Practices Actually Spend on Payments

The cost of accepting card payments in a small healthcare practice is rarely limited to the visible transaction fee. Traditional card terminals require either an upfront purchase or a monthly lease agreement. Payment platforms that sit outside the practice management system create reconciliation work. Invoices that go home with patients and are settled days later extend the payment cycle and create cash flow gaps.

Visa data shows that Tap to Phone adoption surged by 320 percent in the UK in 2025, driven largely by small businesses seeking to reduce hardware dependency and simplify payment acceptance. The trend reflects a broader recognition that the tools required to accept card payments have become unnecessarily complicated and expensive for businesses that do not need enterprise-level infrastructure.

WriteUpp Pay addresses this directly. Because the app is built on Stripe’s infrastructure and connects to an existing WriteUpp account, there is no additional platform fee. Stripe’s standard transaction rates apply. For a practice already using WriteUpp and Stripe for online payment collection, adding in-person payment capability requires only downloading the app and completing a brief setup.

How WriteUpp Pay Works Inside the Clinic Room

When they open the app, WriteUpp Pay shows clinicians a live list of that day’s unpaid appointments and recent invoices. They select the relevant appointment, tap to initiate payment, and the patient taps their card or digital wallet toward the top of the phone. The transaction processes in seconds. The invoice inside WriteUpp is marked as paid automatically, and a receipt can be sent to the patient by email without any manual steps.

Digital wallets, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, are accepted alongside standard contactless bank cards. Transactions paid via digital wallet carry no upper limit because biometric authentication replaces the PIN requirement, making WriteUpp Pay practical for higher-value consultations. For transactions using a regular bank card, the FCA lifted the fixed £100 national contactless cap from March 19, allowing banks to set their own limits or let customers configure their own caps going forward.

For practices using iPads or devices without NFC capability, WriteUpp Pay supports the Stripe Wisepad3 Bluetooth card reader, which connects wirelessly and processes payments through the same Stripe infrastructure. This means the app works whether a clinician is using the latest iPhone or an older tablet that lacks NFC support.

“We specifically designed WriteUpp Pay to work for practices of all sizes, not just those with large admin teams and IT budgets,” said Eric Lalonde, CEO of WriteUpp. “A solo physiotherapist should be able to take payment at the end of a session just as easily as a large multi-practitioner clinic. The phone they already carry is all they need.”

The WriteUpp Case for Point of Care Payment

For small healthcare practices, payment timing matters. Revenue collected at the point of care is revenue that does not require chasing. Invoices sent after the fact sit in email inboxes, get forwarded to the wrong person, or simply go unpaid for longer than they should.

WriteUpp Pay removes the gap between service delivery and payment collection. When a clinician finishes a session, payment happens immediately as part of the natural end-of-appointment workflow. There is no separate step for the patient, no invoice to chase, and no administrative follow-up required. The invoice closes in real time and the revenue appears in the practice’s Stripe account without delay.

For practices that currently experience slow payment cycles, the improvement in cash flow predictability can be significant. Stripe’s standard reporting tools mean practices can track daily payment activity without logging into a separate billing system.

“Cash flow is one of the most stressful parts of running a small practice,” Lalonde said. “You have done the work, you have provided the care, but then you spend the next two weeks waiting to be paid for it. WriteUpp Pay makes that problem much smaller. Payment happens when the appointment ends, not a fortnight later.”

Getting Started with WriteUpp Pay

WriteUpp Pay is available from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It requires an existing WriteUpp account, a connected Stripe Unified account, and at least one location set up within the Stripe account. Clinicians log in using their existing WriteUpp credentials, complete the location setup, and the app is ready to take payments.

For practices not yet using WriteUpp, a 30-day free trial is available through the WriteUpp website. The platform starts at £19.95 per month in the UK on a rolling monthly subscription with no minimum contract, giving small practices the ability to evaluate the full platform, including WriteUpp Pay, before committing.

The numbers demand attention. In 2024, Asia alone lost an estimated $688 billion to fraud, a figure that dwarfs the annual economic output of many nations.

Key Takeaways

• Scale of the crisis: Asia lost an estimated $688 billion to fraud in 2024, making it the global epicentre of financial scams.
• Global recognition: The UN has designated Southeast Asia as ground zero for internet scamming. OECD’s 2026 Consumer Finance Risk Monitor identifies fraud as the top global consumer risk, surpassing inflation and interest rates.
• Industrialisation of fraud: Fraud has evolved into a coordinated industry. Networks share resources, mule accounts are rented and pre-warmed, and cryptocurrency is increasingly used to launder proceeds.
• AI as a weapon: Criminals leverage AI for personalised scam scripts, deepfakes, and synthetic identities (“ghost profiles”), making fraud harder to detect. AI tools can bypass liveness checks and create convincing fake accounts.

The United Nations has designated Southeast Asia as the ground zero of multi-billion-dollar global internet scamming. And according to two major reports released in early 2026, the worst may still be ahead.

The OECD’s Consumer Finance Risk Monitor 2026, drawing on data from 60 countries and territories, delivers a stark verdict: financial scams and frauds are now the single most significant risk facing consumers globally, identified by 85% of responding jurisdictions, and they are expected to increase further through 2026. 

The report marks a seismic shift in the global risk landscape. Where inflation and interest rates topped the threat register just two years ago, fraud has surged to the front of the queue.

That realignment is no accident. Digitalisation is intensifying the rise and sophistication of digital fraud and scams, including phishing, vishing, and smishing, social engineering attacks, identity theft, deepfakes, and AI-generated fraudulent content, creating what the OECD describes as an increasingly difficult environment for policymakers, regulators, and supervisors to navigate.

The Industrialisation of Crime

What has changed most dramatically is not the nature of fraud but its scale and efficiency. Fraud is no longer the province of individual bad actors running isolated cons. It has become an industry.

Fraud rings now share resources, intelligence, and attack strategies, creating coordinated networks that are far more dangerous than individual criminals ever were. Executives at GXS Bank, UOB, and digital lender Tonik, speaking at a recent industry webinar on Asia Pacific fraud trends, described the transformation in concrete terms.

Vincent Mok, Group Chief Risk Officer at GXS Bank, noted that while the basic playbook of government impersonation, romance scams, and investment fraud has not fundamentally changed, fraudsters have become remarkably adaptive, pivoting with alarming speed the moment financial institutions update their controls.

The infrastructure enabling that speed is increasingly sophisticated. In Southeast Asian markets, mule accounts, which are legitimate-looking bank accounts used to launder fraud proceeds, are no longer being sold as one-time assets. 

They are now rented by the hour, pre-warmed with small routine transactions to appear legitimate before being passed on to fraudsters. A growing share of those proceeds is then routed through cryptocurrency, which complicates both detection and asset recovery.

AI Becomes the Criminal’s Most Powerful Tool

Artificial intelligence has lowered the barrier to entry for fraud to near zero. Fraudsters now use AI to craft customised messages and generate real-time scripts tailored to individual victims during job scams and investment fraud, while deepfake technology has become a common instrument for impersonation, particularly in markets like India, where fabricated audio and video allow criminals to pose convincingly as trusted figures.

The consequences for the customer onboarding stage are particularly alarming. AI-powered tools have become so sophisticated and accessible that anyone can turn a short video snippet into a convincing liveness-check bypass. 

Ghost profiles, which are synthetic identities complete with fabricated documents and biometric data, can reportedly be generated through publicly available language models in minutes.

These fraudulent accounts undergo a warming period of small, normal-looking transactions designed to avoid triggering anti-money-laundering or fraud alerts. By the time behaviour shifts and the real fraud begins, the account has built enough legitimacy to be significantly harder to detect and stop.

Spending More, Falling Further Behind

Despite record investment in fraud prevention, financial institutions are losing the arms race. Eighty-five percent of companies increased their fraud prevention budgets last year, yet 43% admit that fraud is growing faster than their ability to stop it.

• Financial institutions struggling: Despite increased budgets, 43% of companies admit fraud is outpacing their defences. Current strategies often add verification layers too late in the process. Experts call for earlier interception of fraudulent intent.
• Consumer vulnerability: Low financial literacy is a major risk factor, especially in Asia. Many consumers cannot interpret financial terms or assess risks, leaving them exposed.
• Regulatory response needed: OECD urges coordinated action among financial authorities, cybersecurity agencies, and law enforcement, alongside consumer education.

Part of the problem is strategic. Many institutions continue to layer additional verification requirements onto existing systems, essentially stacking more guards at the door after intruders have already cased the building. Industry experts argue that what is needed is a fundamental shift in posture: intercepting fraudulent intent before criminals ever reach the authentication stage, reducing friction for legitimate users while blocking threats earlier in the process.

A Vulnerability Gap Regulators Cannot Ignore

Underpinning the fraud epidemic is a demand-side crisis that governments have been slow to address. Low levels of financial literacy remain the most significant consumer-side risk, identified by 81% of jurisdictions surveyed by the OECD. In many markets across Asia, large segments of the population struggle to interpret financial terms or assess risk, heightening their exposure to scams, debt traps, and poor financial decisions.

The OECD’s prescription is clear. Coordinated efforts that bring together financial authorities, cybersecurity agencies, and law enforcement bodies are essential to strengthening practices. 

Addressing the crisis also requires empowering consumers directly, equipping them with the tools and skills needed to make informed financial decisions in an increasingly complex digital environment.

What the Convergence Means for 2026

The intersection of AI-enabled fraud, industrialised criminal networks, low consumer financial literacy, and persistent macroeconomic pressure has created conditions the OECD regards as a defining moment for consumer finance globally. Structural economic, technological, and conduct-related risks are converging in ways that significantly elevate consumer exposure and demand a stronger supervisory response.

For financial institutions, the message from frontline practitioners is direct: the current generation of fraud defences is already falling short. The question is not whether fraud will intensify in 2026. Virtually every available data point confirms it will. The question is whether regulators, banks, and technology providers can close the gap before the losses compound further.

Other People are Reading

Google has rolled out a long-awaited change to Gmail, allowing millions of users in the United States to change their primary @gmail.com email address without creating a new account or losing access to years of emails, photos, Drive files and other data.

The update, announced Tuesday and beginning to roll out Wednesday, April 1, 2026, addresses one of the most frequently asked questions about Gmail: “Can I change my Gmail address?” For more than 20 years since Gmail launched in 2004, users were stuck with their original username, often chosen hastily in high school or college and now regretted or cluttered with spam.

Google confirmed the feature on its support pages and in public statements, noting that users can now select a new Gmail username ending in @gmail.com while keeping the same Google Account. The old address automatically becomes an alias, so mail sent to either continues to arrive in the same inbox. All linked services — including Google Photos, Drive, YouTube, Calendar and Android device sign-ins — remain fully intact.

“This change helps your account grow with you,” a Google spokesperson said, emphasizing that the move responds directly to user demand. The feature is rolling out gradually to U.S. users first, with international availability expected later. Not everyone will see the option immediately, as Google is implementing it in phases to ensure stability.

How the Gmail Address Change Works

The process is straightforward but includes important safeguards:

1. Visit myaccount.google.com and navigate to the Google Account email section.
2. Check eligibility — some accounts linked to Chromebooks, Chrome Remote Desktop or certain third-party sign-ins may face temporary restrictions.
3. Choose a new available username. Google will suggest options and check availability in real time.
4. Confirm the change. The switch happens quickly, and the old address stays active as an alias.

Users should review potential impacts before proceeding. For example, if the old address is used for banking, work logins or important subscriptions, update those services afterward to avoid disruptions. Google advises against frequent changes to prevent confusion.

The company stressed that data security remains unchanged. No emails or files are deleted or transferred to a new account. The update has generated excitement online, with users sharing screenshots of long-desired professional or cleaner addresses becoming reality.

Broader Gmail Overhaul in the Gemini Era

The username change arrives amid Google’s larger push to integrate its Gemini AI model deeply into Gmail, transforming the service from a simple inbox into a proactive personal assistant.

Earlier in 2026, Google introduced several Gemini-powered features now available to all users, including:

• AI Overviews: Summaries of long email threads and natural-language answers to questions about your inbox, such as “What did I agree to in last month’s meeting notes?”
• Help Me Write and Suggested Replies: AI assistance for drafting messages in your personal style or generating context-aware quick responses.
• Proofread: Grammar, tone and clarity checks before sending.
• AI Inbox: A new view that prioritizes important messages, surfaces action items and filters noise, reducing the overwhelm of high email volume.

These tools, previously limited to paid Google One AI Pro or Ultra subscribers, are now free for the more than 2 billion Gmail users worldwide, though advanced capabilities may still require a subscription. Google says users remain in control and can toggle AI features on or off.

The AI enhancements respond to exploding email volumes and the need for smarter inbox management in a hybrid work world. Gmail Vice President of Product Blake Barnes noted that the updates make Gmail “a personal, proactive inbox assistant to help you manage your life, not just your messages.”

Other Recent Changes and Considerations

Alongside the username flexibility and AI tools, Google has made subtler adjustments. Support for certain legacy features, including Gmailify and POP fetching from third-party accounts, is being phased out in 2026 to streamline security and focus on modern IMAP and forwarding options. Existing users have time to transition, but new users face earlier restrictions.

Privacy remains a key discussion point. While Gemini processes data to deliver summaries and suggestions, Google states it adheres to strict privacy policies, with user controls to limit AI access. Some experts advise reviewing settings, especially for those concerned about data used in training or personalization.

The updates reflect Gmail’s evolution from a groundbreaking free email service with massive storage to an AI-augmented productivity platform competing with tools from Microsoft Outlook and emerging challengers.

User Reactions and Practical Tips

Social media and forums lit up with relief and practical questions. Many celebrated finally ditching embarrassing old usernames, while others sought guidance on timing the change to minimize disruption.

Tips for making the most of the updates:

• Update important accounts and contacts after changing your address.
• Explore AI features gradually — start with summaries and replies before relying on full inbox overviews.
• Back up critical data as a precaution, though Google says it is unnecessary.
• Check eligibility at myaccount.google.com if the new option is not yet visible.

For businesses using Google Workspace, similar capabilities are expected to roll out with admin controls.

Looking Ahead for Gmail in 2026

Google has signaled more innovations throughout the year, including deeper integration with Gemini for scheduling, task management and cross-app intelligence connecting Gmail with Photos, Drive and Calendar.

As email remains central to personal and professional communication despite the rise of messaging apps, these changes aim to make Gmail more adaptable and intelligent. The ability to refresh a username without upheaval removes a long-standing frustration for millions, while AI tools promise to cut down on inbox drudgery.

Whether you’re a long-time user tired of an outdated address or simply seeking smarter email management, the latest Gmail updates represent one of the most significant shifts in the service’s history. Google encourages users to explore the changes at their own pace while staying mindful of linked services and privacy preferences.

With more than two decades of dominance, Gmail continues to adapt to user needs and technological advances. The 2026 updates — particularly the username change and Gemini integration — signal that the world’s most popular email platform is far from finished evolving.

Taking a chance on something is exciting, and many people are drawn to the thrill that it offers.

Whether it’s camping out for the latest deals on Black Friday, playing slots or taking part in a gameshow, the chance to win big taps into the part of our brain that enjoys taking risks for the chance of a reward. Taking chances creates excitement and the rush people feel isn’t about winning itself, but not knowing what will happen next.

The Psychology of Risk Taking

Our brains have developed over many millions of years of evolution to enable us to survive in difficult and challenging environments. One of the key components of human psychology is related to how the brain rewards risk-taking behaviour. When we anticipate a potential reward, the brain releases dopamine, which increases motivation and excitement.

This reward system was a useful survival tool in the early days of human history, motivating our ancestors to hunt, forage for food and discover new things. However, this same system is still present today. It motivates a lot of human behaviour, especially when it comes to taking risks.

Although we still experience caution in the face of risk, with losses feeling worse than wins in many cases, low-cost risks can override this feeling. That’s why low-stakes slots are so popular. If the possible gain feels large and the potential loss is small, the risk feels like it’s worth it.

The Unpredictability and Excitement of Online Casino Games

Online gambling is essentially an expression of our attraction to risk and reward. Casino and sports betting platforms are designed to tap into the brain’s need for dopamine and anticipation by offering unpredictable outcomes that keep players engaged.

Most platforms offer a variety of games and ways to play, but few are as popular as online slots. These offer simple gameplay mechanics that are designed to stimulate the brain’s variable reward system as much as possible. Megaways slots offer a unique mechanic which changes the number of ways to win on every spin, making every round unpredictable and keeping players anticipating the outcome every time. The high number of possible winning combinations, in addition to the bonus features often built into these games, help make them especially engaging.

However, players should always be mindful of their limits and approach gambling responsibly to ensure it remains a safe and enjoyable experience.

Cultural and Social Factors

Our tendency to take risks is a major part of our brain chemistry, but it’s also influenced by society and culture. Making a gamble that pays off creates a great story that’s worth telling all your friends. People love to share stories of times they’ve taken risks, and even if it doesn’t work out, it creates an interesting anecdote to share. Those who have hit a big jackpot or won a game show will become widely known in their circle of friends, with the story likely retold again and again over the years.

Risk-taking can also be a fun social activity. Many people who enjoy playing bingo or enjoying casino games prefer to do so in the company of their friends, where they can share the excitement of their wins and receive commiserations for their losses or near wins. Game shows thrive on the energy of the crowd, where cheers, gasps and even groans help add to the drama and excitement, both for the contestants and the audience watching.

The media has also helped to popularise certain types of risk-taking behaviour. High-stakes game shows, where contestants chase big prizes in a double-or-nothing round, are incredibly popular. Seeing someone take a big risk, whether they win or lose, feeds the fascination with risk-taking. In addition, social media has helped popularise risky trends and allowed people to share their stories of taking chances more easily.

Why We Keep Coming Back

Risks may not always pay off, but people will keep coming back again and again, especially if the stakes are low. Take a lottery ticket, for example. Some people will buy a ticket every week for their entire lives without ever winning. Even just fantasising about what you’d win with the jackpot is enough to motivate your brain to do it again the following week.

Hope is entertaining, and the possibility of achieving something great, even if the odds are low, will create enough motivation to take that chance. Imagining the win can often be just as satisfying as the win itself. For a lot of people, hope and daydreaming can provide control over an uncertain and unpredictable world.

Even when the odds aren’t in our favour, taking a chance feels exciting and it can be a lot of fun. Of course, risk-taking can also lead to negative outcomes, especially when you’re gambling with your health or with real money. As a result, it’s important to always consider the potential impact of any risk, and avoid doing things that are considered unsafe or that might result in harm.