CFE-Fraud-Schemes-and-Financial-Crimes ACFE Certified Fraud Examiner -Fraud Schemes and Financial Crimes Free Practice Exam Questions (2026 Updated)

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: 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: 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: This definition matches corruption , a broad category of occupational fraud in which employees use their influence in business transactions to gain personal benefit, in violation of their duties. Corruption schemes include bribery, conflicts of interest, illegal gratuities, and extortion.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Conflict of interest – A subtype of corruption, but narrower in scope.

C. Bribery – Also a subtype, but the definition given covers the broader category.

D. Overbilling – A billing scheme under fraudulent disbursements, not corruption.

Key Concept: Corruption as defined in the Fraud Tree.