ACFE CFE - Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes (Certified Fraud Examiner - Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes) Practice Test 64

Question 630

The team is assessing a potential trade over-invoicing discrepancy. Initial observation: Customs quantities and market pricing diverge sharply from declared invoice values. Which verification step is most informative?

  1. Trace the purchase funds, beneficial owner and later disposition proceeds.
  2. Reconcile trade invoices with shipping detail, customs declarations and market benchmarks.
  3. Compare bills of lading, pricing benchmarks and intercompany settlement flows.
  4. Compare reported cash sales with independent capacity, procurement and customer evidence.

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

For the Trade over-invoicing concern, the procedure tests source evidence behind this observation: Customs quantities and market pricing diverge sharply from declared invoice values. This matters because inflated trade prices can transfer value across borders under cover of legitimate commerce; independent corroboration is necessary before accepting any conclusion.

Incorrect Answers

A:

This comparison primarily addresses Integration through luxury property, in which integration converts earlier illicit value into apparently lawful assets or proceeds; because the present question instead concerns Trade over-invoicing, reviewers should compare bills of lading, pricing benchmarks and intercompany settlement flows rather than apply a check designed for Integration through luxury property.

B:

This comparison primarily addresses Trade under-invoicing, in which underpricing can move economic value to an offshore counterparty through an ostensibly normal sale; because the present question instead concerns Trade over-invoicing, reviewers should compare bills of lading, pricing benchmarks and intercompany settlement flows rather than apply a check designed for Trade under-invoicing.

D:

This comparison primarily addresses Cash-intensive front business, in which fictitious sales provide a plausible bookkeeping story for introducing criminal cash; because the present question instead concerns Trade over-invoicing, reviewers should compare bills of lading, pricing benchmarks and intercompany settlement flows rather than apply a check designed for Cash-intensive front business.

Question 631

Two separate review files raise different issues. File A: An importer pays a related exporter far more than the reasonable value of shipped goods. File B: An exporter sells valuable goods to an overseas associate at an artificially low declared price. Which pairing accurately classifies both files?

  1. File A: Trade under-invoicing; File B: Trade over-invoicing.
  2. File A: Cash-intensive front business; File B: Trade under-invoicing.
  3. File A: Trade over-invoicing; File B: Trade under-invoicing.
  4. File A: Trade over-invoicing; File B: Integration through luxury property.

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

File A is Trade over-invoicing because inflated trade prices can transfer value across borders under cover of legitimate commerce, while File B is Trade under-invoicing because underpricing can move economic value to an offshore counterparty through an ostensibly normal sale. The evidence chains differ: for File A, reviewers should compare bills of lading, pricing benchmarks and intercompany settlement flows; for File B, they should reconcile trade invoices with shipping detail, customs declarations and market benchmarks.

Incorrect Answers

A:

File A is misidentified as Trade under-invoicing instead of Trade over-invoicing; File B is misidentified as Trade over-invoicing instead of Trade under-invoicing. With the proposed pairing Trade under-invoicing / Trade over-invoicing, the distinction is substantive: File A shows that customs quantities and market pricing diverge sharply from declared invoice values, whereas File B shows that export records and comparable sale prices indicate substantial underpricing. For these Trade over-invoicing and Trade under-invoicing files, choosing the pair Trade under-invoicing / Trade over-invoicing would misdirect the review away from at least one of these mechanisms.

B:

File A is misidentified as Cash-intensive front business instead of Trade over-invoicing. With the proposed pairing Cash-intensive front business / Trade under-invoicing, the distinction is substantive: File A shows that customs quantities and market pricing diverge sharply from declared invoice values, whereas File B shows that export records and comparable sale prices indicate substantial underpricing. For these Trade over-invoicing and Trade under-invoicing files, choosing the pair Cash-intensive front business / Trade under-invoicing would misdirect the review away from at least one of these mechanisms.

D:

File B is misidentified as Integration through luxury property instead of Trade under-invoicing. With the proposed pairing Trade over-invoicing / Integration through luxury property, the distinction is substantive: File A shows that customs quantities and market pricing diverge sharply from declared invoice values, whereas File B shows that export records and comparable sale prices indicate substantial underpricing. For these Trade over-invoicing and Trade under-invoicing files, choosing the pair Trade over-invoicing / Integration through luxury property would misdirect the review away from at least one of these mechanisms.

Question 632

The case file describes the following: An intruder uses a compromised supplier email account to replace genuine invoice bank instructions. Which classification best explains the events?

  1. Spear-phishing credential capture
  2. AI-voice executive impersonation
  3. Vendor-mailbox business email compromise
  4. QR-code phishing campaign

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

Vendor-mailbox business email compromise fits the facts because bEC uses trusted business communications to redirect funds without necessarily altering the invoice amount; the distinguishing observation is that a long email thread suddenly carries new payment details after anomalous sign-ins. To test this interpretation, a reviewer should review mailbox access events and independently verify beneficiary instructions.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Spear-phishing credential capture would involve a different sequence from Vendor-mailbox business email compromise: targeted phishing collects credentials by masquerading as a trusted internal communication. Unlike the rejected Spear-phishing credential capture label, the evidence concerns Vendor-mailbox business email compromise, since a long email thread suddenly carries new payment details after anomalous sign-ins; reviewers should review mailbox access events and independently verify beneficiary instructions.

B:

AI-voice executive impersonation would involve a different sequence from Vendor-mailbox business email compromise: synthetic voice impersonation can exploit executive authority cues without true authorization. Unlike the rejected AI-voice executive impersonation label, the evidence concerns Vendor-mailbox business email compromise, since a long email thread suddenly carries new payment details after anomalous sign-ins; reviewers should review mailbox access events and independently verify beneficiary instructions.

D:

QR-code phishing campaign would involve a different sequence from Vendor-mailbox business email compromise: qR phishing hides a malicious URL within an image instead of a visible hyperlink. Unlike the rejected QR-code phishing campaign label, the evidence concerns Vendor-mailbox business email compromise, since a long email thread suddenly carries new payment details after anomalous sign-ins; reviewers should review mailbox access events and independently verify beneficiary instructions.

Question 633

Two separate review files raise different issues. File A: An executive orders year-end sales invoices to nonexistent customers despite no contracts or deliveries. File B: A seller books the full contract price before it has fulfilled the promised performance requirements. Which pairing accurately classifies both files?

  1. File A: Channel-stuffing manipulation; File B: Premature revenue recognition.
  2. File A: Premature revenue recognition; File B: Fictitious sales entries.
  3. File A: Fictitious sales entries; File B: Premature revenue recognition.
  4. File A: Fictitious sales entries; File B: Omitted related-party disclosure.

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

File A is Fictitious sales entries because recording invented transactions inflates revenue and assets without an underlying exchange, while File B is Premature revenue recognition because a real contract does not justify recognizing revenue before relevant recognition criteria are satisfied. The evidence chains differ: for File A, reviewers should confirm selected receivables independently and match invoices to dispatch records; for File B, they should compare recognized revenue with signed acceptance and fulfillment milestones.

Incorrect Answers

A:

File A is misidentified as Channel-stuffing manipulation instead of Fictitious sales entries. With the proposed pairing Channel-stuffing manipulation / Premature revenue recognition, the distinction is substantive: File A shows that large new receivables lack customer confirmations or shipping support, whereas File B shows that invoices cluster at period end while acceptance milestones remain open. For these Fictitious sales entries and Premature revenue recognition files, choosing the pair Channel-stuffing manipulation / Premature revenue recognition would misdirect the review away from at least one of these mechanisms.

B:

File A is misidentified as Premature revenue recognition instead of Fictitious sales entries; File B is misidentified as Fictitious sales entries instead of Premature revenue recognition. With the proposed pairing Premature revenue recognition / Fictitious sales entries, the distinction is substantive: File A shows that large new receivables lack customer confirmations or shipping support, whereas File B shows that invoices cluster at period end while acceptance milestones remain open. For these Fictitious sales entries and Premature revenue recognition files, choosing the pair Premature revenue recognition / Fictitious sales entries would misdirect the review away from at least one of these mechanisms.

D:

File B is misidentified as Omitted related-party disclosure instead of Premature revenue recognition. With the proposed pairing Fictitious sales entries / Omitted related-party disclosure, the distinction is substantive: File A shows that large new receivables lack customer confirmations or shipping support, whereas File B shows that invoices cluster at period end while acceptance milestones remain open. For these Fictitious sales entries and Premature revenue recognition files, choosing the pair Fictitious sales entries / Omitted related-party disclosure would misdirect the review away from at least one of these mechanisms.

Question 634

The team is assessing a potential capitalized routine operating costs discrepancy. Initial observation: Unusual new assets have expense-like vendor descriptions and no future qualifying benefit. Which verification step is most informative?

  1. Perform independent counts and test ownership and valuation of selected stock.
  2. Obtain independent customer terms and inspect side letters and subsequent cancellations.
  3. Search subsequent disbursements for missing accruals and compare receiving logs with liabilities.
  4. Inspect additions to capital accounts against invoice descriptions and capitalization policies.

Explanation

Correct Answer

D:

For the Capitalized routine operating costs concern, the procedure tests source evidence behind this observation: Unusual new assets have expense-like vendor descriptions and no future qualifying benefit. This matters because moving a period expense into assets understates expenses and overstates profit and assets; independent corroboration is necessary before accepting any conclusion.

Incorrect Answers

A:

This comparison primarily addresses Inflated year-end inventory, in which overstated ending inventory usually understates cost of goods sold and inflates earnings; because the present question instead concerns Capitalized routine operating costs, reviewers should inspect additions to capital accounts against invoice descriptions and capitalization policies rather than apply a check designed for Inflated year-end inventory.

B:

This comparison primarily addresses Concealed sales-side agreement, in which undisclosed contractual rights may defeat the assertion that a recorded sale is final or earned; because the present question instead concerns Capitalized routine operating costs, reviewers should inspect additions to capital accounts against invoice descriptions and capitalization policies rather than apply a check designed for Concealed sales-side agreement.

C:

This comparison primarily addresses Unrecorded accrued liabilities, in which omitting obligations understates liabilities and costs rather than creating new cash resources; because the present question instead concerns Capitalized routine operating costs, reviewers should inspect additions to capital accounts against invoice descriptions and capitalization policies rather than apply a check designed for Unrecorded accrued liabilities.

Question 635

The case file describes the following: A supervisor authorizes hours that workers did not perform and shares inflated wage payments. Which classification best explains the events?

  1. Falsified overtime payroll
  2. Ghost payroll employee
  3. Manipulated commission sales
  4. Payroll direct-deposit diversion

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Falsified overtime payroll fits the facts because false hours increase payments to real employees without corresponding services; the distinguishing observation is that clock records and access logs conflict with approved overtime hours. To test this interpretation, a reviewer should compare payroll overtime with access, shift and work-order evidence.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Ghost payroll employee would involve a different sequence from Falsified overtime payroll: a fabricated employee record turns ordinary payroll into an unauthorized disbursement. Unlike the rejected Ghost payroll employee label, the evidence concerns Falsified overtime payroll, since clock records and access logs conflict with approved overtime hours; reviewers should compare payroll overtime with access, shift and work-order evidence.

C:

Manipulated commission sales would involve a different sequence from Falsified overtime payroll: compensation is extracted through false performance metrics rather than fake employees. Unlike the rejected Manipulated commission sales label, the evidence concerns Falsified overtime payroll, since clock records and access logs conflict with approved overtime hours; reviewers should compare payroll overtime with access, shift and work-order evidence.

D:

Payroll direct-deposit diversion would involve a different sequence from Falsified overtime payroll: a genuine employee's wages are redirected by altering settlement data. Unlike the rejected Payroll direct-deposit diversion label, the evidence concerns Falsified overtime payroll, since clock records and access logs conflict with approved overtime hours; reviewers should compare payroll overtime with access, shift and work-order evidence.

Question 636

The case file describes the following: A storekeeper removes saleable goods from inventory and records unexplained shrinkage. Which classification best explains the events?

  1. False scrap classification
  2. Fictitious outbound shipment
  3. Unauthorized equipment personal use
  4. Warehouse stock diversion

Explanation

Correct Answer

D:

Warehouse stock diversion fits the facts because the employee converts recorded merchandise to private use by exploiting physical access; the distinguishing observation is that repeated shortages affect items to which the custodian has exclusive access. To test this interpretation, a reviewer should reconcile cycle counts, stock movements and exception adjustments by custodian.

Incorrect Answers

A:

False scrap classification would involve a different sequence from Warehouse stock diversion: misclassification makes valuable inventory appear worthless before it leaves the site. Unlike the rejected False scrap classification label, the evidence concerns Warehouse stock diversion, since repeated shortages affect items to which the custodian has exclusive access; reviewers should reconcile cycle counts, stock movements and exception adjustments by custodian.

B:

Fictitious outbound shipment would involve a different sequence from Warehouse stock diversion: false shipment records disguise a physical theft as normal logistics activity. Unlike the rejected Fictitious outbound shipment label, the evidence concerns Warehouse stock diversion, since repeated shortages affect items to which the custodian has exclusive access; reviewers should reconcile cycle counts, stock movements and exception adjustments by custodian.

C:

Unauthorized equipment personal use would involve a different sequence from Warehouse stock diversion: temporary unauthorized use is misuse of a noncash asset even where permanent theft is unproven. Unlike the rejected Unauthorized equipment personal use label, the evidence concerns Warehouse stock diversion, since repeated shortages affect items to which the custodian has exclusive access; reviewers should reconcile cycle counts, stock movements and exception adjustments by custodian.

Question 637

The monitoring team needs an observable indicator of cash-safe theft. Which signal aligns most closely with the risk?

  1. Donor acknowledgment totals exceed the logged and deposited contributions.
  2. Surprise cash counts fall below the petty-cash ledger balance.
  3. Deposit documentation and bank-confirmed credits disagree despite correct till totals.
  4. The register shows sales greater than the actual till count and deposit.

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

This observation is a pertinent indicator of Cash-safe theft because theft of cash on hand depletes a recorded fund without necessarily involving a sales transaction. The practical corroborating procedure is to recount the fund unexpectedly and inspect replenishment vouchers; the indicator by itself does not establish intent or error.

Incorrect Answers

A:

The proposed observation fits Charity donation skimming, where a donation stolen before entry may leave no accounting shortage unless outside records are used, rather than the particular mechanism in Cash-safe theft. Unlike the clue for Charity donation skimming, the more directly related indicator for Cash-safe theft is this: Surprise cash counts fall below the petty-cash ledger balance.

C:

The proposed observation fits Deposit-bag substitution, where the removal occurs after recording and before funds reach the bank, rather than the particular mechanism in Cash-safe theft. Unlike the clue for Deposit-bag substitution, the more directly related indicator for Cash-safe theft is this: Surprise cash counts fall below the petty-cash ledger balance.

D:

The proposed observation fits Recorded-till cash larceny, where cash larceny steals receipts after they have been recorded, leaving a book-to-cash shortage, rather than the particular mechanism in Cash-safe theft. Unlike the clue for Recorded-till cash larceny, the more directly related indicator for Cash-safe theft is this: Surprise cash counts fall below the petty-cash ledger balance.

Question 638

Two separate review files raise different issues. File A: A struggling business transfers valuable equipment to a director's affiliate for nominal consideration before insolvency. File B: An insider files an unsupported debt claim through an associated entity to obtain a share of estate distributions. Which pairing accurately classifies both files?

  1. File A: Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer; File B: Concealed offshore insolvency asset.
  2. File A: Bankruptcy bust-out credit buying; File B: Fictitious creditor claim.
  3. File A: Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer; File B: Fictitious creditor claim.
  4. File A: Fictitious creditor claim; File B: Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer.

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

File A is Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer because transfers intended to put assets beyond creditors may be challengeable under applicable insolvency law, while File B is Fictitious creditor claim because a manufactured liability can dilute legitimate creditors' recoveries. The evidence chains differ: for File A, reviewers should trace asset conveyance documents, fair value and beneficial ownership; for File B, they should confirm claim validity using contracts, bank traces and accounting history.

Incorrect Answers

A:

File B is misidentified as Concealed offshore insolvency asset instead of Fictitious creditor claim. With the proposed pairing Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer / Concealed offshore insolvency asset, the distinction is substantive: File A shows that sale value and related-party timing are inconsistent with an arm's-length transfer, whereas File B shows that the alleged loan lacks bank funding and contemporaneous loan documents. For these Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer and Fictitious creditor claim files, choosing the pair Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer / Concealed offshore insolvency asset would misdirect the review away from at least one of these mechanisms.

B:

File A is misidentified as Bankruptcy bust-out credit buying instead of Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer. With the proposed pairing Bankruptcy bust-out credit buying / Fictitious creditor claim, the distinction is substantive: File A shows that sale value and related-party timing are inconsistent with an arm's-length transfer, whereas File B shows that the alleged loan lacks bank funding and contemporaneous loan documents. For these Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer and Fictitious creditor claim files, choosing the pair Bankruptcy bust-out credit buying / Fictitious creditor claim would misdirect the review away from at least one of these mechanisms.

D:

File A is misidentified as Fictitious creditor claim instead of Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer; File B is misidentified as Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer instead of Fictitious creditor claim. With the proposed pairing Fictitious creditor claim / Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer, the distinction is substantive: File A shows that sale value and related-party timing are inconsistent with an arm's-length transfer, whereas File B shows that the alleged loan lacks bank funding and contemporaneous loan documents. For these Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer and Fictitious creditor claim files, choosing the pair Fictitious creditor claim / Pre-filing fraudulent asset transfer would misdirect the review away from at least one of these mechanisms.

Question 639

An analyst is selecting warning signs for false insolvency schedules. Which recorded pattern should receive focused attention?

  1. The alleged loan lacks bank funding and contemporaneous loan documents.
  2. A credible operating plan exists and management proposes a going-concern recovery.
  3. Customer confirmations and creditor support contradict filed values.
  4. Purchases accelerate before filing while sale proceeds are diverted.

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

This observation is a pertinent indicator of False insolvency schedules because false asset and debt statements distort the administration of the insolvency estate. The practical corroborating procedure is to independently confirm material receivables and liabilities against the filed schedules; the indicator by itself does not establish intent or error.

Incorrect Answers

A:

The proposed observation fits Fictitious creditor claim, where a manufactured liability can dilute legitimate creditors' recoveries, rather than the particular mechanism in False insolvency schedules. Unlike the clue for Fictitious creditor claim, the more directly related indicator for False insolvency schedules is this: Customer confirmations and creditor support contradict filed values.

B:

The proposed observation fits Liquidation versus reorganization, where reorganization aims to preserve or restructure the enterprise; liquidation ordinarily realizes assets for distribution, rather than the particular mechanism in False insolvency schedules. Unlike the clue for Liquidation versus reorganization, the more directly related indicator for False insolvency schedules is this: Customer confirmations and creditor support contradict filed values.

D:

The proposed observation fits Bankruptcy bust-out credit buying, where a planned bust-out extracts value from vendors through deliberate nonpayment and asset diversion, rather than the particular mechanism in False insolvency schedules. Unlike the clue for Bankruptcy bust-out credit buying, the more directly related indicator for False insolvency schedules is this: Customer confirmations and creditor support contradict filed values.

Question 640

Control designers are focusing on the mechanism behind concealed check diversion: The cash leaves via an unauthorized payment camouflaged by accounting classification. Which measure best limits that opportunity?

  1. Have a reviewer independent of disbursements compare payees and vouchers.
  2. Require second-party approval for payments benefiting an authorized signer.
  3. Use secure positive pay with payee validation where supported.
  4. Secure outgoing checks and independently resolve vendor nonreceipt.

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

The control directly addresses the failure point in Concealed check diversion, since the cash leaves via an unauthorized payment camouflaged by accounting classification. A subsequent independent review could trace ledger entries and check numbers to cleared bank images and approvals to identify exceptions that bypassed the safeguard.

Incorrect Answers

B:

This safeguard is directed primarily at Authorized-maker self-payment rather than Concealed check diversion, because authority to sign does not confer permission to take company funds for personal use. Unlike the control for Authorized-maker self-payment, the more direct design for Concealed check diversion is to have a reviewer independent of disbursements compare payees and vouchers; a different safeguard cannot substitute for it.

C:

This safeguard is directed primarily at Altered check payee rather than Concealed check diversion, because an otherwise authorized check is redirected by changing who can receive the proceeds. Unlike the control for Altered check payee, the more direct design for Concealed check diversion is to have a reviewer independent of disbursements compare payees and vouchers; a different safeguard cannot substitute for it.

D:

This safeguard is directed primarily at Forged check endorsement rather than Concealed check diversion, because the authorized check is diverted at the endorsement stage, not created by a false invoice. Unlike the control for Forged check endorsement, the more direct design for Concealed check diversion is to have a reviewer independent of disbursements compare payees and vouchers; a different safeguard cannot substitute for it.

Certified Fraud Examiner - Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes (CFE - Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes) Practice Tests