Free and Premium ACFE CFE-Financial-Transactions-and-Fraud-Schemes Dumps Questions Answers

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:The accounting cycle is the complete process of recording transactions, adjusting the books, preparing trial balances, and producing financial statements. Journal entries are part of the process, but the entire structured sequence is called the accounting cycle.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Journal Entries – Steps within the cycle, not the entire process.

C. Financial statement – Output of the cycle, not the process itself.

D. None of all – Incorrect since the accounting cycle is the correct term.

Key Concept:Accounting Cycle — structured process of recording and adjusting transactions.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:This is False. Accounting is based on the objectivity principle, requiring that records and financial information be supported by objective, verifiable evidence (e.g., invoices, contracts, receipts). Subjective evidence would undermine reliability.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. True – Incorrect, as subjectivity is discouraged in accounting.

B. False – Correct, since accounting relies on objective documentation.

Key Concept:Objectivity principle in accounting.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: Corporate spies do use social engineering, but their primary methods include surveillance, infiltration (e.g., posing as employees), and technical monitoring. The statement in option C is false because searching desks/workstations is a tactic, but it is not the primary method.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A – True; fake badges are a common infiltration tactic.

B – True; low-level jobs provide physical access.

D – True; technical surveillance is a recognized method.

Key Concept: Methods of corporate espionage.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:During the solicitation phase, corrupt employees may attempt to eliminate legitimate competitors by restricting the list of vendors invited to bid. This unfairly favors a particular supplier, often in exchange for bribes or kickbacks.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Need recognition – Involves creating false or unnecessary demand, not restricting bidders.

C. False specification – Relates to vague or tailored specifications, not bid solicitation.

D. Submission – Occurs after solicitation when vendors submit bids.

Key Concept:Solicitation phase schemes — restricting competition.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:In fictitious revenue schemes, sales are recorded that never occurred. Because no actual customers exist, there will be no late or overdue accounts receivable. The Fraud Examiners Manual (2020) notes that unusually clean receivables aging reports—i.e., no overdue balances—can be a red flag of revenue manipulation.

Analysis of Incorrect Option:

B. False – Incorrect; the absence of overdue receivables is indeed suspicious and aligns with fictitious revenue fraud.

Key Concept: Financial statement fraud red flags — fictitious revenues.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:The journal is specifically the chronological record of transactions. Each entry captures date, accounts affected, amounts, and explanation, making it the foundational record before posting to the ledger.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Asset – Not a record, but a resource.

C. Checkbook – Only records cash movements, not all transactions.

D. Ledger – Summarizes accounts, but not in chronological order.

Key Concept:Chronological recording of transactions via the journal.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:John created a completely false expense claim for a meal that he did not personally pay for. This is a fictitious expense reimbursement scheme, where employees invent expenses and submit them for reimbursement.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Mischaracterized expense – Legitimate expenses claimed as business when they are personal. Not applicable here.

C. Multiple reimbursement – Involves submitting the same receipt more than once. Not the case here.

D. Overstated expense – Inflating a legitimate expense, which is not what John did.

Key Concept: Expense reimbursement fraud — fictitious expenses.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Upcoding occurs when a provider bills for a higher level of service than what was actually provided. Billing a 15-minute visit as a 60-minute visit is a classic upcoding scheme.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Name brand prescription – Not upcoding; this is prescribing choice, not billing fraud.

B. Multiple codes instead of one – This is unbundling, not upcoding.

D. Changing service date – This is falsifying service dates, not upcoding.

Key Concept: Health care billing fraud — upcoding vs. unbundling.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Skimming involves the theft of cash before it is recorded in the accounting system. Since sales are never recorded, reconciling sales to receipts will not detect skimming—it can only detect larceny (theft after recording).

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. True – Incorrect because no discrepancy exists in the records (the sale itself is omitted).

Key Concept: Distinction between skimming (off-book theft) and cash larceny (on-book theft).

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:The journal is the core of the bookkeeping system because it provides a chronological record of all business transactions. Each transaction is recorded as a journal entry before posting to the ledger.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Asset – A resource, not a recording system.

B. Liability – An obligation, not the recording medium.

C. Checkbook – Tracks cash disbursements, but not all transactions.

Key Concept:Journal as the primary book of original entry.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation

Definition of Upcoding (ACFE Manual Reference)

The ACFE Manual identifies upcoding as a type of health care billing fraud in which the provider submits a claim for a more expensive or more complex service than what was actually provided.

Although the exact term “upcoding” appears within the health care fraud discussions, the broader category is part of Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes concerning fraudulent billing practices. The manual describes fraud schemes in which the perpetrator:

Bills for services not provided,

Bills for more expensive services than were actually delivered, or

Uses codes that misrepresent the level or nature of medical procedures.

Upcoding specifically involves:

Billing for a higher-cost procedure than what was actually performed, by using a code representing a more expensive service.

Why Option D Is Correct

Dr. Raul advised a patient with a small fracture to use crutches, but he submitted a claim using a code indicating that he placed a cast on the patient.

Actual service: Advice and crutches

Billed service: Application of a cast (more expensive procedure)

This is a textbook example of upcoding, as the provider is using a higher-cost CPT code to obtain greater reimbursement than the service warrants.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A – Not Upcoding

Cindy receives a payment to undergo an unnecessary procedure, which is then billed fraudulently.

This is medically unnecessary services fraud, not upcoding.

Option B – Not Upcoding

Dr. Loomis uses three procedure codes instead of one.

This is an example of unbundling, which involves billing separate codes for procedures that should be billed as a single package.

Option C – Not Upcoding

Landon inflates the amount of a medical bill he wants reimbursed.

This is billing inflation or overstatement, but not misrepresentation via coding.

ACFE Manual Supporting Reference

The Manual’s section on fraudulent billing schemes discusses cases where perpetrators misrepresent medical procedures, including using false or inflated codes to obtain higher reimbursements.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: One of the strongest internal controls against fraudulent billing schemes (such as shell companies, inflated invoices, and kickbacks) is to require competitive bidding. This ensures transparency, reduces favoritism, and makes it harder for employees and vendors to collude.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A – Fraud tips are valuable, but routing them only through supervisors may suppress reporting; hotlines are more effective.

B – Combining purchasing and payment increases fraud risk by reducing segregation of duties.

D – Outsourcing negotiations does not directly prevent billing fraud.

Key Concept: Internal controls and segregation of duties in preventing billing schemes.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Cost mischarging occurs when costs are charged to improper accounts or contracts. The best way to detect it is through analytical review—comparing direct vs. indirect labor account totals across periods to identify unusual shifts or spikes.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Reviewing inspection/testing reports – Effective for detecting defective/substituted goods, not mischarging.

C. Inspecting packaging – Identifies product substitution, not accounting mischarges.

D. Examining change orders – Useful for contract fraud, but not direct mischarging.

Key Concept: Cost mischarging detection through analytical procedures.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:An underring occurs when an employee intentionally enters a lower sales amount into the register than what was collected from the customer. The difference is pocketed by the employee. This is a common register manipulation skimming scheme.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. Recording a sale procedure – General process, not fraud.

C. Internal sales audits – Control activity, not the fraud scheme.

D. All of the above – Incorrect, since only “underring” is accurate.

Key Concept:Underring schemes in cash register fraud.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Irregular, low-value, or unpredictable revenue sources such as parking fees, late charges, or vending machine sales are prime skimming targets. Because they are difficult to estimate or reconcile precisely, theft of these funds is less likely to be detected quickly.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. Recorded sales – These are already in the books and easier to reconcile.

C. Internal audits – A control mechanism, not a target.

D. Register manipulations – A method, not the revenue source itself.

Key Concept:Vulnerable revenue streams as skimming targets.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:According to the ACFE Fraud Tree, corruption is divided into four classifications: bribery, illegal gratuities, economic extortion, and conflicts of interest. These cover the major ways employees misuse influence for personal gain.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. Corruption… – Redundant; corruption is the main category, not a sub-classification.

C. Overbilling and bid-rigging – These are disbursement schemes, not corruption categories.

D. Corruption repeated – Incorrect for the same reason as option B.

Key Concept:Corruption classifications under the Fraud Tree.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:The going concern assumption means that a business will continue operating indefinitely and will not liquidate in the near future. This underpins the use of historical cost accounting and normal accrual-based reporting.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Materiality – Relates to significance of information, not continuity.

C. Cost – Refers to historical cost valuation.

D. Fair value – Refers to current market value, not continuity.

Key Concept:Going Concern Assumption in accounting.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: Under accrual-basis accounting, revenues are generally recognized when earned (often upon delivery of goods or services), not necessarily when cash is received. Similarly, expenses are recorded when incurred, not when paid. This provides a more accurate picture of performance and financial position.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A – This describes cash-basis accounting, not accrual-basis.

B – Accrual accounting is more complex, not simpler.

C – Focuses on earned revenues and incurred expenses, not immediate cash flow.

Key Concept: Accrual accounting matches revenues with expenses in the period they occur.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Bribery is specifically defined as offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting anything of value to influence an official act or business decision. It is one of the four primary corruption categories.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Corruption – Broader category; bribery is one part of it.

B. Diverting business to vendors – A conflict of interest scheme, not bribery.

D. Lacking approval authority – Refers to control weaknesses, not corruption.

Key Concept:Bribery definition and its role in corruption.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Intangible assets are long-lived assets that lack physical substance and differ from property, plant, and equipment. Examples include goodwill, patents, trademarks, and copyrights. They provide long-term benefits but cannot be physically touched.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Tangible Assets – These have physical form (e.g., equipment, land).

C. Forced Assets – Not an accounting category.

D. None of the above – Incorrect since intangible assets match the definition.

Key Concept:Classification of Assets — tangible vs. intangible.

Rationale for Correct Answer:Rationalization is the cognitive process by which fraud perpetrators justify their unethical conduct so they can commit fraud without feeling like criminals. A common way is to “invent a good reason” for their actions (e.g., “I deserve it,” “I’ll pay it back,” “Everyone else is doing it”). Thus, the correct completion is “one’s actions” or more precisely, Rationalization.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:Since this is a fill-in-the-blank, the distractors are implied. The only correct concept here is rationalization of one’s actions.

Key Concept:Rationalization — one leg of the fraud triangle.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: Biometric authentication (fingerprints, facial recognition) is one of the strongest defenses against identity theft. It prevents unauthorized logins even if passwords are compromised.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A – Password reuse should be avoided altogether, not just limited.

B – Updates should be installed promptly, not annually.

C – Personal information should rarely, if ever, be transmitted via email, even with reputable companies.

Key Concept: Identity theft prevention through strong authentication.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Management may overstate financial statements to (B) meet performance criteria, (C) trigger bonuses/compensation, or (D) show growth to enhance valuation for sale.However, when seeking to comply with debt covenants, management typically understates liabilities or expenses — not overstates performance. Thus, A is not aligned with overstatement motives.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B, C, D – All are recognized motives for overstating business performance.

A. Comply with debt covenants – More linked to manipulation of liabilities (often understatement), not overstatement of revenue.

Key Concept:Motives for overstatement in financial statement fraud.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:The term Employee deviance refers to conduct that is harmful both to the organization and to the employee engaging in it. This encompasses a broad set of behaviors, including fraud, theft, abuse, and violations of organizational norms. While employee theft and fraud are subsets, deviance is the umbrella concept.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. Employee theft – Specific to stealing from the employer, not the broader definition of detrimental conduct.

C. Employee fraud – Specific to deceptive practices, not all deviant acts.

D. All of the above – Incorrect, since the definition most accurately matches “Employee deviance.”

Key Concept:Employee Deviance — broader behavioral category that includes fraud, theft, and other misconduct.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:One of the most effective ways to protect proprietary information is educating employees about nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) at onboarding and again during exit. This ensures awareness of confidentiality obligations.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Changing locks/codes every 3–5 years – Reasonable security but insufficient for safeguarding proprietary information.

B. Classifying data by years of service – Not a sound security practice; access should be based on role and need-to-know.

D. Requiring notes/drafts – Increases risk of information leaks, not protection.

Key Concept: Proprietary information protection.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Fraudulent schemes involving returns and allowances can be detected by analyzing accounts for unusually high transactions in these categories. This is a common red flag for concealment of theft or manipulation of sales.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Allowances by vendors – Too narrow, not a standard analytic test.

B. Disposals of allowances than reorders – Not a recognized search method.

D. None of the above – Incorrect, since option C is valid.

Key Concept:Returns and allowances analysis for fraud detection.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:The correct answer is A. Larceny. As defined in the Fraud Examiners Manual (2020 International Edition), larceny is the unlawful taking of another’s property with intent to permanently deprive the owner of its use or possession. Essential elements include: (1) the wrongful taking or carrying away of property, (2) without the consent of the owner, and (3) with felonious intent (i.e., intent to steal). This aligns directly with the definition provided in the question.

Analysis of Incorrect Options (Distractors):

B. Abuse – Abuse typically refers to the improper use of authority or resources (e.g., excessive expense claims, misuse of assets), but it is not a legal term describing theft by taking.

C. Fiduciary – Fiduciary describes a relationship of trust or duty to act for another’s benefit, not the act of theft.

D. None of the above – Incorrect because “larceny” precisely matches the elements described.

Key Concept:The definition and elements of larceny, which is a foundational legal concept for distinguishing among asset misappropriation schemes such as larceny vs. skimming.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: A draw request is used by construction developers to obtain loan funds for work completed. If lien releases are missing, it suggests subcontractors may not have been paid, and the developer might be misrepresenting completed work—an indicator of loan fraud.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A – Omission of personal account statements isn’t unusual for a draw request.

B – Change orders are common in construction projects.

D – Multiple inspection reports support validity, not fraud.

Key Concept: Loan fraud detection through supporting documentation review.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:In a fraudulent purchase scheme, the company legitimately purchases assets, but the fraudster diverts or misappropriates them after acquisition. The purchase itself is real, but the use of the assets is fraudulent.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Inventory larceny scheme – Direct theft without purchase.

B. Asset receiving scheme – Not a recognized fraud scheme.

D. Falsify shipping – Involves falsifying shipment records, not post-purchase misappropriation.

Key Concept:Fraudulent purchases — assets are bought legitimately but stolen afterward.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: In the procurement cycle, the post-award and administration phase involves the actual performance of contractual duties by the awarded contractor(s) and monitoring by the procuring entity. This is consistent with procurement process descriptions in the Fraud Examiners Manual (2020).

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B – Needs identification occurs in the presolicitation phase, not solicitation.

C – In presolicitation, the entity defines needs; contractors submit bids during the solicitation phase.

D – The solicitation document is issued during the solicitation phase, not evaluation.

Key Concept: Understanding procurement phases to detect fraud opportunities (e.g., bid rigging, kickbacks).

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:According to ACFE’s Report to the Nations and the Fraud Examiners Manual, tips are the most common method of detecting corruption cases. Employees, vendors, or customers often report suspicious activity via hotlines or whistleblowing mechanisms.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Internal audits – Helpful but less common as the initial detection method.

B. Internal controls – Preventive, not the primary detection source.

D. By accident – Can occur, but far less common than tips.

Key Concept:Tips/whistleblowing as the primary detection method for corruption.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation (Based on the ACFE Fraud Examiners Manual – Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes)

In the Identity Theft chapter of the Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes section, the ACFE Manual explains that there are two primary methods of committing identity theft:

Traditional identity theft

Synthetic identity theft

These are listed under “Methods of Committing Identity Theft” (1.803), immediately followed by “Types of Identity Theft Schemes” (1.804) such as financial identity theft and criminal identity theft.

1. Why the correct answer is Traditional identity theft (Option B)

In traditional identity theft, the perpetrator uses the real, complete identity of another person—such as their name, government identification number, and birthdate—to impersonate that person for fraudulent purposes. This is exactly what is happening in the question:

The fraudster uses a real victim’s name, government identification number, and birthdate to open a credit card account in the victim’s name.

This matches the Manual’s categorization where traditional identity theft involves misuse of actual personal identifying information (PII) belonging to a real individual, rather than fabricating an identity. The Manual then explains that this stolen identity is often used in financial schemes, such as obtaining credit cards, loans, or other financial benefits, which falls under financial identity theft as a type of identity theft scheme.

So, in ACFE terms, the method is traditional identity theft, and the scheme type is financial identity theft (using another person’s identity to obtain credit or other financial benefits).

2. Why the other options are incorrect

Option A – New account identity theft

“New account identity theft” is a descriptive phrase sometimes used in practice to describe opening new credit accounts in another person’s name, but the ACFE Manual’s formal categorization focuses on:

Methods of committing identity theft:

Traditional identity theft

Synthetic identity theft

Types of identity theft schemes:

Financial identity theft

Criminal identity theft

Medical identity theft

Insurance identity theft

Tax identity theft

Employment identity theft

Business identity theft

“New account identity theft” is not one of the defined method categories in the Manual; the described conduct is captured under traditional identity theft (method) and financial identity theft (scheme type). Therefore, this option does not align with the ACFE’s terminology tested on the CFE exam.

Option C – Synthetic identity theft

The Manual distinguishes synthetic identity theft as a different method. Under “Methods of Committing Identity Theft” (1.803), it explains that synthetic identity theft involves combining real elements of identity (for example, a genuine government identification number) with fabricated or unrelated information (such as a made-up name, date of birth, or address) to create a partly fictitious identity.

In the question, the fraudster is not creating a hybrid or composite identity. They are using all of the real victim’s identifying information (name, government ID number, birthdate) and posing directly as that person. That is traditional, not synthetic.

Option D – Criminal identity theft

Under “Types of Identity Theft Schemes” (1.804–1.805), the Manual describes criminal identity theft as a scheme where a fraudster gives someone else’s identifying information to law enforcement or in criminal justice contexts, so that the victim’s identity is attached to the criminal record or charges.

Typical examples include:

Giving another person’s name and identification details when stopped or arrested

Causing warrants or criminal records to be issued in the victim’s name

In the question scenario, the fraudster is not interacting with law enforcement or shifting criminal records to the victim. Instead, they are opening a credit card account, which is a financial use of the stolen identity. Therefore, it fits financial identity theft as a scheme type, but traditional identity theft as the method.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Materiality is most often associated with fraudulent financial statements because fraudsters may argue that misstatements are “immaterial.” However, deliberate misstatements of any size can be fraudulent. Materiality thus plays a critical role in assessing fraudulent statement cases.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. Misappropriations – Involve theft, but materiality is less central than in reporting fraud.

C. Civil lawsuit – A possible outcome, not the core accounting issue.

D. Quality control – Not related to materiality in fraud.

Key Concept:Materiality in Financial Statement Fraud — even small misstatements may be fraudulent.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: Administrative security controls involve policies, procedures, and practices designed to manage the overall security environment—such as awareness training, audits, data classification, and enforcement of policies. These controls focus on governance rather than direct system configuration.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Technical security controls – These are automated safeguards (e.g., firewalls, encryption).

B. Logical access controls – Restrict access to systems through passwords, tokens, or biometrics.

D. Physical access controls – Restrict physical access (e.g., locks, guards, CCTV).

Key Concept: Layers of security controls (administrative, technical, physical).

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:This statement is False. According to ACFE studies, asset misappropriation is the most common but least costly category of occupational fraud. Fraudulent statements are the least common but most costly, while corruption falls in the middle in both frequency and cost.

Key Concept:Fraud Tree Statistics — frequency and cost comparison of asset misappropriation, corruption, and financial statement fraud.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:The correct answer is A. Fiduciary Capacity. According to the Fraud Examiners Manual (2020 International Edition), a fiduciary relationship exists when a person is entrusted with the property or affairs of another and is obligated to act in the best interest of that person, rather than for their own benefit. Fiduciary capacity is a key legal concept in fraud examinations, particularly in cases involving breaches of trust, embezzlement, or misappropriation.

Analysis of Incorrect Options (Distractors):

B. Embezzlement – Embezzlement is the wrongful appropriation of assets by a person entrusted with them. While it often arises from a fiduciary relationship, it describes the act of theft, not the capacity in which the person acts.

C. Conversion – Conversion refers to the unauthorized use or control over another’s property, a civil wrong, but it does not describe the relationship of acting on another’s behalf.

D. None of the above – Incorrect, since “fiduciary capacity” directly fits the definition in the question.

Key Concept:Understanding fiduciary duty and fiduciary capacity, which form the legal foundation for identifying when a person has a duty to act on behalf of another, often forming the basis for fraud-related legal claims.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: Best practices in preventing EFT fraud require mailing PINs and account information separately, never together. Sending them together creates a serious security risk if intercepted.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A – Correct preventive measure: immediately cancel and reissue stolen access devices.

B – Correct preventive measure: validating addresses helps detect fraudulent applications.

C – Correct preventive measure: segregation of duties reduces insider fraud risks.

Key Concept: EFT fraud prevention through layered security and separation of duties.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Conflict of interest schemes occur when an employee, manager, or agent has an undisclosed personal interest in a transaction that is adverse to their employer. The Fraud Examiners Manual (2020) notes that one of the most common forms is when an employee has a hidden ownership or financial interest in a vendor that does business with the company. This compromises objectivity and creates self-dealing risks.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. Salesman interest – Too narrow and not representative of the standard conflict scheme definition.

C. Purchaser interest – Purchasers are often involved, but the broader definition encompasses all employees.

D. Dealer interest – “Dealership interest” is not a recognized ACFE fraud scheme classification.

Key Concept: Conflict of Interest scheme under Corruption.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: Human intelligence (HUMINT) involves gathering information directly from people, often through deception, elicitation, or impersonation. Georgina’s posing as a customer to obtain confidential details fits this method.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. Baiting – A social engineering tactic using false promises (e.g., malware disguised as freebies).

C. Scavenging – Collecting discarded information (e.g., dumpster diving).

D. Open-source intelligence – Gathering data from public records, news, or websites, not through elicitation.

Key Concept: Methods of competitive intelligence and social engineering.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: In the detection and analysis phase of cybersecurity incident response, the focus is on identifying the scope of the incident, including all breaches, compromised systems, and the method of attack. Containment, eradication, and recovery occur in later steps. Thus, identifying all breaches is the correct activity for this step.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Limiting damage – This occurs in the containment phase.

B. Creating an incident response plan – This is part of the preparation phase.

C. Restoring control of affected systems – This occurs during eradication and recovery.

Key Concept: Incident response methodology: preparation → detection/analysis → containment → eradication → recovery.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Trend analysis is one of the most effective ways to detect omitted credits. By analyzing patterns in revenue, expenses, or balances over time, discrepancies such as missing credits become apparent. Forensic examiners rely on comparative financial analysis to identify anomalies that suggest manipulation.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Forced Balance – Describes concealment, not detection.

C. Expense account – Accounts can be manipulated but are not detection methods.

D. None of all – Incorrect, since trend analysis is correct.

Key Concept:Analytical procedures (trend analysis) in fraud detection.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Conflict of interest is often uncovered through proactive investigative methods such as tips, vendor ownership review, and employee interviews. Underbilling schemes, however, relate to Financial Statement Fraud and Revenue Recognition Manipulation, not conflict of interest detection.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Tips & Complaints – Common detection method; many corruption schemes are revealed this way.

B. Review of vendor ownership files – Critical to identify hidden ownership ties.

D. Interviews with purchasing personnel – Helps detect suspicious relationships or favoritism.

Key Concept: Detection of Conflict of Interest schemes.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:The most basic skimming scheme is when an employee completes a legitimate sale, collects payment, but never records the transaction. The stolen cash is never entered in the books, making it an “off-book” fraud.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B & D – Describe purchasing scenarios, irrelevant to skimming.

C – Records the sale, meaning the transaction enters the books (not skimming).

Key Concept:Unrecorded Sales as the simplest form of skimming.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: Affinity fraud occurs when fraudsters exploit trust within identifiable groups—such as religious, ethnic, or professional communities—making members more susceptible to deception.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B – Social control fraud relates to control fraud by institutions, not religious targeting.

C – Bait and switch is a deceptive sales tactic, not specific to religious groups.

D – Advance-fee scams may target anyone, not specifically religious communities.

Key Concept: Affinity fraud as a corruption/exploitation scheme.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From the ACFE Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes Manual

The ACFE Fraud Examiners Manual (2020 International Edition), under the section on Information Security in Electronic Commerce Systems, describes the three primary security goals that must be achieved to protect users and account holders:

Confidentiality

Integrity

Availability

These three goals form the cornerstone of information system protection and are often referred to as the CIA triad.

1. Confidentiality

Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information is accessible only to authorized individuals. The Manual highlights that e-commerce systems must protect customers’ personal and financial data from unauthorized access.

2. Integrity

Integrity requires that the information in the system is accurate and has not been improperly altered. This prevents fraudulent manipulation of records, transactions, and account balances.

3. Availability

Availability ensures that systems and data are accessible to authorized users when needed. This includes preventing disruptions caused by system failures, denial-of-service attacks, or internal sabotage.

These three goals are explicitly documented in the ACFE Manual as essential security requirements for safeguarding electronic financial systems.

Why Option C is the Correct Answer

“Penetrability of data” is NOT an information security goal.

In fact, it is the opposite of what an information security framework seeks to achieve. No section of the ACFE Manual identifies "penetrability" as a required or legitimate objective. Instead, systems should be resistant to penetration attempts.

Thus, Option C does not belong to the CIA model or any ACFE-described security framework.

ACFE Manual Reference

These concepts are covered in the Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes section discussing information security objectives for e-commerce environments, which identifies confidentiality, integrity, and availability as the foundational goals of secure systems.

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:When a tangible asset is stolen (removed from the books), a debit entry would be missing its corresponding credit, leaving the books out-of-balance. Fraudsters often conceal this imbalance by falsifying entries (e.g., creating fictitious expenses or adjusting asset accounts).

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Journal Entries – Too general; not the condition of the books.

C. False debits – A concealment method, but not the direct result.

D. None of all – Incorrect because “out-of-balance” is accurate.

Key Concept:Concealment of asset theft and impact on accounting records.

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.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:By definition, Equity (or net assets) represents the residual interest in the assets of an entity after deducting liabilities. This aligns with the basic accounting equation: Assets = Liabilities + Equity. Thus, the difference between assets and liabilities is Equity.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. Expense – A cost incurred in earning revenue, not residual interest.

C. Revenue – Inflows from operations, not assets minus liabilities.

D. Income statement – A financial report, not a balance sheet component.

Key Concept:Equity as residual interest in the accounting equation.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Per generally accepted accounting principles, changes in accounting principles must be disclosed in the financial statements to ensure comparability and transparency. The ACFE notes that disclosures are critical to prevent misleading users of financial statements.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Subsequent events – Material subsequent events must be disclosed; this statement is false.

B. Contingent losses – Only probable and reasonably estimable losses must be disclosed. If unlikely, no disclosure is required.

C. All information – Only material information requires disclosure.

Key Concept: Disclosure requirements in financial reporting.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Cash larceny involves stealing cash after it has been recorded. Mark stole $50 directly from the register after recording sales, which is a cash larceny scheme.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Paul’s scheme – This is skimming (off-book theft), not larceny.

B. Emily’s scheme – This is a lapping scheme (concealing theft of receivables), not pure larceny.

C. Sarah/Jenna – This is an overstated refund scheme (fraudulent disbursement), not larceny.

Key Concept: Cash larceny vs. skimming vs. fraudulent disbursements.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:The Asset Turnover Ratio measures how efficiently a company uses its assets to generate revenue. It is calculated as Net Sales ÷ Average Total Assets. Higher ratios indicate better efficiency.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Quick ratio – Liquidity ratio, not asset efficiency.

B. Receivable turnover ratio – Measures efficiency in collecting receivables, not overall asset use.

C. Debt-to-equity ratio – Capital structure metric, not efficiency.

Key Concept: Financial ratio analysis — asset utilization efficiency.

Rationale for Correct Answer:The price-level adjusted historical cost method adjusts the original purchase price of an asset for inflation, providing a more current value while still tied to historical cost principles. It addresses one of the limitations of strict historical cost accounting.

Key Concept:Inflation adjustments in asset valuation.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:This statement is False. Research in occupational fraud consistently shows that when employees believe there is a strong likelihood of being caught, they are less likely to engage in theft or deviant behavior. Deterrence theory emphasizes that perceived certainty of detection is one of the most effective controls against occupational fraud.

Key Concept:Deterrence through perceived detection.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: Past posting occurs when an insured reinstates or purchases insurance coverage after a loss has already occurred and then submits a false claim, backdating the loss to appear covered. Joe’s scheme fits this exactly.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Staged accident – Fraudulent accidents deliberately caused, not applicable here.

B. Inflated damages – Exaggerating actual losses, not retroactive coverage.

D. Vehicle repair – General claim fraud, but not the scheme in question.

Key Concept: Insurance fraud – past posting schemes.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Skimming is defined as the theft of cash before it is recorded in the books. Because the stolen funds are never entered into the accounting system, this is often referred to as an “off-book” fraud. It is distinct from cash larceny, which occurs after cash has been recorded.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. The addition of cash – Incorrect; skimming involves removal, not addition.

C. Removal after entry – This describes cash larceny, not skimming.

D. None of above – Incorrect since option A is correct.

Key Concept:Skimming schemes — off-book cash theft.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:The word delude means to mislead the mind or judgment so completely that the truth is obscured. In fraud examination, this aligns with the ACFE definition of fraud as a “deliberate misrepresentation that causes another to act to their detriment.” Fraud is not merely a false statement; it involves concealment or suppression of the truth with the intent to induce reliance. Thus, delude most accurately represents the deeper essence of fraud.

Analysis of Incorrect Options (Distractors):

A. Deceive: While fraud does involve deception, this word does not fully convey the thoroughness of obscuring the truth that fraud entails.

C. Mislead: This implies causing error or leading astray but lacks the complete concealment aspect central to fraud.

D. Beguile: Often connotes charm or trickery rather than the intentional concealment that characterizes fraud.

Key Concept:This question tests the definition and essence of fraud — specifically that fraud is not only about deceiving but about deluding, or thoroughly misleading, in a way that obscures the truth.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Employees involved in bribery or corruption schemes often exhibit lifestyle red flags such as gambling habits, drug/alcohol addiction, or extravagant spending. These behaviors create financial pressures that may motivate or result from corrupt activity.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A, B, C individually – Each is a red flag, but the most accurate answer is all of the above.

Key Concept:Behavioral red flags in corruption cases.

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:Physical inventory counts involve actually counting items on hand and comparing them to book records. These counts can reveal theft, errors, or shrinkage when discrepancies are identified.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Perpetual inventory counts – The system tracks expected balances but cannot independently confirm theft.

C. Concealment inventory counts – Not a recognized term.

D. None of the above – Incorrect, since physical counts do aid detection.

Key Concept:Physical inventory counts as a fraud detection tool.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: An advance-fee scheme occurs when fraudsters request upfront payments (fees, commissions, or deposits) for services or opportunities that never materialize. The broker taking the fee without providing services is a classic case.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Bait and switch – Advertising one product/service but delivering another, not applicable here.

C. Split deposit scheme – Involves diversion of payroll or deposits, not loans.

D. Scavenger scheme – Charging for unnecessary services, often debt collection or foreclosure help, not applicable.

Key Concept: Advance-fee frauds as common financial scams.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Studies by the ACFE consistently show that inventory and equipment are the most commonly misappropriated noncash assets. They are highly liquid, valuable, and often difficult to monitor without strong controls.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Interest & Collusion – Not physical assets.

C. Inventory & Purchase – Purchase is a process, not a physical asset.

D. Sales & Equipment – Sales are transactions, not assets.

Key Concept:Noncash asset misappropriation — inventory and equipment are the primary targets.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: A kickback scheme occurs when vendors make payments to employees of a purchasing organization in exchange for steering business their way. Here, Bob steered contracts to Oak Company and received a percentage of profits, a textbook kickback arrangement.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. Illegal gratuity scheme – Involves rewards after a decision, without a prior agreement. Here, the agreement was prearranged.

C. Diversion scheme – Refers to diversion of assets, not procurement favoritism.

D. Economic extortion scheme – Involves coercion of the vendor; this was voluntary bribery.

Key Concept: Bribery and kickbacks as forms of corruption.

Rationale for Correct Answer:Fraud investigations can be highly costly to organizations. The process often involves external forensic examiners, legal proceedings, employee time, and disruption of operations. While necessary, investigations represent a significant resource commitment in terms of both time and financial cost.

Key Concept:Fraud Investigation Costs — deterrence vs. response strategies.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Net realizable value (NRV) is the estimated selling price of an asset in the ordinary course of business, minus any costs of completion, disposal, or transportation. This is often applied in valuing accounts receivable and inventory.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. Going concern – Assumption of business continuity, not asset valuation.

C. Cost – Historical cost, not future realizable value.

D. Fair value – Current market-based measure, not net proceeds after costs.

Key Concept:Net realizable value — valuation method for receivables and inventory.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Gross profit = Net sales – Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). This is the correct definition, as per standard accounting principles.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Gross revenue – Defined as total sales before deductions, not after.

B. Net profit – Net profit is after all expenses (operating, interest, taxes), not before.

D. Operating expenses – Appear after gross profit, not at the top.

Key Concept: Income statement structure and key definitions.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Donald Cressey’s fraud triangle identifies three conditions that lead to occupational fraud: (1) Pressure (financial or other), (2) Opportunity (ability to commit without detection), and (3) Rationalization (justification by the perpetrator to make the act acceptable in their own mind). Thus, the third leg is Rationalization.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Violation – Not part of the fraud triangle.

B. Isolation – Not a recognized component of the model.

D. None of the above – Incorrect because rationalization is explicitly the correct answer.

Key Concept:Fraud Triangle — Opportunity, Pressure, Rationalization.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:Bribes to purchasing employees often aim to:

Ensure late bids are accepted,

Extend deadlines unfairly,

Or falsify bid logs.Bid-splitting, however, is a scheme performed to avoid approval thresholds and does not require bribery of purchasing employees.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Receipt of late bid – Real reason to bribe.

B. Extend opening date – Real reason to bribe.

D. Falsify bid log – Real reason to bribe.

C. Ensure bid-splitting – Not a bribery motivation.

Key Concept:Bribery motivations in procurement fraud.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer: Economic extortion occurs when someone demands payment or benefit under threat of harm (explicit or implicit). A government official demanding money in exchange for awarding a contract is classic extortion.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A – This is a billing scheme (fraudulent disbursement), not extortion.

C – This is a kickback scheme (corruption).

D – This is an illegal gratuity scheme (reward after action).

Key Concept: Types of corruption—extortion vs. bribery vs. gratuities.