The Certified Fraud Examiner - Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes Exam (CFE-Financial-Transactions-and-Fraud-Schemes)

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: The Fraud Examiners Manual (2020) highlights document reviews, audit tracing, financial analysis, and inside witnesses as the primary methods of proving corrupt payments. Secret infiltration is not a standard fraud examination technique; it is more aligned with law enforcement undercover operations.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Taxation inquiries – A valid method to confirm payment sources.

C. Inside witness – Valuable evidence in corruption cases.

D. Tracing payments – Fundamental audit step in proving illicit payments.

Key Concept: Proving corrupt payments — standard audit and investigative methods.

The ACFE Fraud Examiners Manual addresses Expense Reimbursement Schemes under Asset Misappropriation: Fraudulent Disbursements and separates the discussion into:

Detection of Expense Reimbursement Schemes

Prevention of Expense Reimbursement Schemes

The Manual specifically identifies “Detailed Expense Reports: Submission and Review” as the prevention approach for expense reimbursement fraud.

Why A is correct

Requiring all employees to submit receipts electronically is not, by itself, a preventive control recognized by the Manual. The ACFE’s prevention focus is on requiring detailed expense reports , adequate supporting documentation, and careful review—not merely changing the format of submission from paper to electronic. In fact, because expense reimbursement fraud often involves altered receipts , fictitious receipts , and other manipulated support, simply requiring electronic submission does not meaningfully prevent the scheme. The Manual lists schemes such as altered receipts and producing fictitious receipts , showing that the problem is the authenticity and review of documentation, not whether the receipt is submitted electronically.

Why the other options are helpful

B. Comparing current expenses to budgeted expense amounts

This is helpful because the Manual includes review and analysis of expense accounts as part of detecting these schemes. Comparing reported expenses to expected or budgeted levels can reveal unusual spikes or anomalies that may indicate fraud.

C. Requiring employees to explain the specific business purpose of each expense

This is clearly helpful and consistent with the Manual’s prevention emphasis on detailed expense reports and proper documentation. Requiring a specific business purpose makes it harder to submit personal, inflated, or fictitious expenses.

D. Comparing current expenses to historical expenditure amounts

This is also helpful because the Manual’s review and analysis of expense accounts supports analytical comparisons to identify irregularities, trends, or unexplained increases in reimbursements. Historical comparison is a classic way to spot padded or abnormal expense claims.

Conclusion

Under the ACFE Manual, prevention of expense reimbursement schemes depends on detailed reporting, documentation, and review . Merely requiring receipts to be submitted electronically does not address whether the receipts are false, altered, duplicated, or unsupported. Therefore, the choice that would NOT be helpful in preventing expense reimbursement schemes is:

A. Requiring all employees to submit receipts electronically

References

ACFE Fraud Examiners Manual, 2020 International Edition

Expense Reimbursement Schemes

Detection of Expense Reimbursement Schemes / Review and Analysis of Expense Accounts

Prevention of Expense Reimbursement Schemes / Detailed Expense Reports: Submission and Review

Altered Receipts / Producing Fictitious Receipts

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: This statement is True . Fraud examiners often analyze purchases by vendor to detect schemes where a single vendor receives disproportionately favorable treatment. This may indicate kickbacks, conflicts of interest, or vendor collusion schemes.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. False – Incorrect, as vendor analysis is a valid tool to identify such schemes.

Key Concept: Purchases by vendor analysis as a fraud detection method.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: In a legitimate competitive bidding process , all bidders must be treated equally, with the same access to information, terms, and conditions. This ensures fairness and prevents procurement fraud.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Bid-rigging – The manipulation of competitive bidding, not the fair process.

B. Kickbacks – Involve secret payments, not equal bidding.

D. Bid solicitation – The stage of inviting bids, not the equal treatment requirement.

Key Concept: Competitive bidding — foundation of fairness in procurement.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: This description reflects asymmetrical accounting , which is based on the conservatism principle. Possible losses are recorded, but potential gains are omitted until realized. This creates an asymmetry in recognizing losses versus gains.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. Symmetrical accounting – Would recognize gains and losses equally, contrary to conservatism.

C. Playing accounting – Fraud scheme, not a principle.

D. Bearing accounting – Not a recognized concept.

Key Concept: Asymmetry in accounting — conservative recognition of losses versus gains.

The ACFE Fraud Examiners Manual addresses Nonconforming Goods or Services under Contract and Procurement Fraud . The Manual states that, to detect nonconforming schemes, the fraud examiner should examine contract specifications, contractor statements, invoices, supporting documents, the received product, and test and inspection results for discrepancies with contract specifications. It then specifically adds:

“Additionally, to detect nonconforming schemes, the fraud examiner should:

• Review correspondence and contract files for indications of noncompliance.

• Request assistance from outside technical personnel to conduct after-the-fact tests.”

This language matches Option B exactly, so it is the most appropriate detection technique.

Why the other options are incorrect

A. Interviewing complaining contractors and unsuccessful bidders about the presence of red flags

This is a detection technique the Manual associates with change order abuse , not nonconforming goods or services schemes.

C. Comparing the direct and indirect labor account totals from the prior year to the current year

This type of comparative cost analysis is more consistent with testing for cost mischarging or other accounting irregularities, not the primary detection methods for nonconforming goods/services. The Manual’s nonconforming-scheme detection guidance focuses on specifications, inspection results, product testing, and contract/correspondence review.

D. Determining if the costs of the contract have exceeded or are expected to exceed the value of the contract

That is not identified by the Manual as the most appropriate method for detecting nonconforming goods or services. Again, the Manual directs the examiner to look for noncompliance with specifications and supporting documentation.

References

ACFE Fraud Examiners Manual, 2020 International Edition

Contract and Procurement Fraud — Nonconforming Goods or Services

Detecting Nonconforming Goods or Services Schemes

Related contrast: Detecting Change Order Abuse

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: New account fraud occurs when fraudsters open accounts with false or stolen identities to exploit financial institutions before controls detect suspicious activity. Mobile deposits are particularly vulnerable because criminals can use counterfeit or altered images to deposit fraudulent checks quickly. This aligns with the Fraud Examiners Manual (2020) discussion of high-risk delivery channels for new account fraud.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Established accounts – Incorrect; fraud risk is higher in new accounts due to limited history and weaker controls.

C. Six months definition – Not an ACFE standard; there is no fixed six-month definition.

D. ATMs rarely targeted – Incorrect; ATMs are frequently exploited in new account fraud schemes.

Key Concept: New account fraud in identity theft and corruption-related schemes.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: The ACFE describes occupational fraud and abuse as an expense of doing business because organizations inevitably face losses from it, just as they incur other operating costs. This framing emphasizes the importance of prevention and detection to minimize this “expense.”

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Equity – Residual ownership interest, not relevant here.

B. Balance sheet – A report, not a cost.

D. Financial record – Too vague.

Key Concept: Occupational Fraud as a Cost of Business .

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: This statement is True . Asset misappropriations reduce the organization’s assets. In double-entry accounting, a decrease in assets without a corresponding decrease in liabilities results in a reduction of owner’s equity. Therefore, fraud not only depletes assets but also indirectly reduces equity.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. False – Incorrect because asset theft clearly reduces net assets and thereby equity.

Key Concept: Impact of Asset Misappropriation on the accounting equation: Assets = Liabilities + Equity.