ACFE CFE - Investigation (Certified Fraud Examiner - Investigation) Practice Test 62

Question 610

A public address receives suspect funds and is labeled with a person's nickname. What is the strongest investigative approach to verify control over a cryptocurrency wallet?

  1. Look for lawful evidence of instructions, funding, and beneficial interests
  2. Corroborate key control or exchange-account attribution through lawful evidence
  3. Examine ownership, decision rights, funding, and use of the vessel
  4. Test the transaction chain and independent relationships

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

A blockchain address is not a legal identity. Attribution may require provider records or reliable device artifacts.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Nominee structures can be legitimate; that is why it can help to trace a nominee arrangement without assuming illegality. A nominee title alone is insufficient; seek reliable evidence of the person directing assets and decisions; it does not address the specific requirement to verify control over a cryptocurrency wallet.

C:

Legal title may rest with an entity while another party controls benefits; this addresses a different question: how to identify who controls an asset held by an entity. Multiple records can clarify the relationship; it does not address the specific requirement to verify control over a cryptocurrency wallet.

D:

Family connection and timing are leads, not proof the property was bought with diverted funds; it protects the separate goal to connect relatives to a questioned transfer carefully. Source-level evidence is necessary; the immediate evidentiary task here is to verify control over a cryptocurrency wallet.

Question 611

A suspect purchases a commercial unit through an intermediary company. What should be done to reconstruct a property acquisition financing trail?

  1. Combine conveyance, mortgage, escrow, and bank records
  2. Examine purchase funding, company records, and actual control
  3. Verify closing statements and receipt of sale proceeds
  4. Seek qualified valuation appropriate to the recovery purpose

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Purchase documentation can show price and counterparties. Funding trail analysis connects actual payments to sources.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Registration shows title but does not conclusively identify economic benefit; this is primarily relevant when the objective is to identify a concealed interest in a luxury vehicle. Use and financing facts may expose an indirect interest; it would not by itself meet the stated need to reconstruct a property acquisition financing trail.

C:

Listing an asset does not prove a completed sale; that is the consideration when a team tries to check whether a sale actually produced cash. Separate advertised price from net proceeds after closing costs and outstanding debt; it does not settle how to reconstruct a property acquisition financing trail in this situation.

D:

Retail replacement and realizable resale value can diverge sharply; this is primarily relevant when the objective is to assess jewelry valuations in asset recovery. The chosen standard should be stated and supported; that would leave unresolved the present need to reconstruct a property acquisition financing trail.

Question 612

A vehicle is registered to a business but appears used exclusively by the investigated executive. Which action would most reliably help the team to identify a concealed interest in a luxury vehicle?

  1. Check beneficial owners and account signatories lawfully
  2. Combine conveyance, mortgage, escrow, and bank records
  3. Verify closing statements and receipt of sale proceeds
  4. Map acquisition funding, registration, and recurring maintenance payments
  5. Seek qualified valuation appropriate to the recovery purpose
  6. Examine purchase funding, company records, and actual control

Explanation

Correct Answer

F:

Registration shows title but does not conclusively identify economic benefit. Use and financing facts may expose an indirect interest.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Common addresses may be administrative coincidences; this is a sensible safeguard where the issue is to connect an investment account to the correct person. Test signatory authority and beneficial interests before connecting the investment balance to the subject; the priority under these facts is to identify a concealed interest in a luxury vehicle.

B:

Purchase documentation can show price and counterparties; this responds to a different operational need to reconstruct a property acquisition financing trail. Funding trail analysis connects actual payments to sources; that would leave unresolved the present need to identify a concealed interest in a luxury vehicle.

C:

Listing an asset does not prove a completed sale; this is a sensible safeguard where the issue is to check whether a sale actually produced cash. Separate advertised price from net proceeds after closing costs and outstanding debt; the investigative step being tested here is how to identify a concealed interest in a luxury vehicle.

D:

Ownership and operational control may be split; that is why it can help to trace a yacht acquired through several entities. Multiple cash flows can reveal who funds and benefits from the asset; the required investigative decision is to identify a concealed interest in a luxury vehicle.

E:

Retail replacement and realizable resale value can diverge sharply; it can be useful for efforts to assess jewelry valuations in asset recovery. The chosen standard should be stated and supported; it would not by itself meet the stated need to identify a concealed interest in a luxury vehicle.

Question 613

An employee claims a property sale funded expensive spending but supplies only a listing agreement. What would be the most defensible approach to check whether a sale actually produced cash?

  1. Examine purchase funding, company records, and actual control
  2. Verify closing statements and receipt of sale proceeds
  3. Seek qualified valuation appropriate to the recovery purpose
  4. Integrate conveyance, mortgage, escrow, and bank records

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Listing an asset does not prove a completed sale. Settlement records establish whether funds were realized. Separate advertised price from net proceeds after closing costs and outstanding debt.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Registration shows title but does not conclusively identify economic benefit; it can be useful for efforts to identify a concealed interest in a luxury vehicle. Use and financing facts may expose an indirect interest; this case asks for a means to check whether a sale actually produced cash instead.

C:

Retail replacement and realizable resale value can diverge sharply; this addresses a different question: how to assess jewelry valuations in asset recovery. The chosen standard should be stated and supported; it serves another purpose, not the immediate need to check whether a sale actually produced cash.

D:

Purchase documentation can show price and counterparties; it protects the separate goal to reconstruct a property acquisition financing trail. Funding trail analysis connects actual payments to sources; the priority under these facts is to check whether a sale actually produced cash.

Question 614

An investigator estimates seized jewelry at retail replacement cost for the loss report. Which response is most appropriate to assess jewelry valuations in asset recovery?

  1. Seek qualified valuation appropriate to the recovery purpose
  2. Combine conveyance, mortgage, escrow, and bank records
  3. Map acquisition funding, registration, and recurring maintenance payments
  4. Examine purchase funding, company records, and actual control

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Retail replacement and realizable resale value can diverge sharply. The chosen standard should be stated and supported.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Purchase documentation can show price and counterparties; this concerns the distinct task of deciding how to reconstruct a property acquisition financing trail. Funding trail analysis connects actual payments to sources; the examiner still needs to assess jewelry valuations in asset recovery.

C:

Ownership and operational control may be split; it belongs to a different stage of work: trying to trace a yacht acquired through several entities. Multiple cash flows can reveal who funds and benefits from the asset; this case asks for a means to assess jewelry valuations in asset recovery instead.

D:

Registration shows title but does not conclusively identify economic benefit; this addresses a different question: how to identify a concealed interest in a luxury vehicle. Use and financing facts may expose an indirect interest; it is not a substitute for a step that would assess jewelry valuations in asset recovery.

Question 615

A vessel is titled to an offshore company while operating expenses are paid by a local subsidiary. Which procedure would best allow investigators to trace a yacht acquired through several entities?

  1. Combine conveyance, mortgage, escrow, and bank records
  2. Examine purchase funding, company records, and actual control
  3. Map acquisition funding, registration, and recurring maintenance payments
  4. Verify closing statements and receipt of sale proceeds

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

Ownership and operational control may be split. Multiple cash flows can reveal who funds and benefits from the asset.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Purchase documentation can show price and counterparties; that principle applies when the team needs to reconstruct a property acquisition financing trail. Funding trail analysis connects actual payments to sources; it does not settle how to trace a yacht acquired through several entities in this situation.

B:

Registration shows title but does not conclusively identify economic benefit; it supports the separate objective to identify a concealed interest in a luxury vehicle. Use and financing facts may expose an indirect interest; the examiner still needs to trace a yacht acquired through several entities.

D:

Listing an asset does not prove a completed sale; it describes an action suited to check whether a sale actually produced cash. Separate advertised price from net proceeds after closing costs and outstanding debt; the required investigative decision is to trace a yacht acquired through several entities.

Question 616

An employee claims stock sales funded disputed payments to a relative. What is the strongest investigative approach to trace transfers from a brokerage account?

  1. Examine agreements, ownership registers, valuations, and bank settlement
  2. Check beneficial owners and account signatories lawfully
  3. Obtain authorized brokerage trade and cash-distribution records
  4. Include leverage and outstanding obligations in the analysis
  5. Trace paying agents and underlying account holdings

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

A sale may generate proceeds, but the examiner must show actual cash availability and destination. Market statements alone may not prove transfer.

Incorrect Answers

A:

A contract alone does not prove consideration changed hands; this is a sensible safeguard where the issue is to assess proceeds from a purported private share sale. Verification of buyer, transfer, and actual funds helps test legitimacy; that would leave unresolved the present need to trace transfers from a brokerage account.

B:

Common addresses may be administrative coincidences; it describes an action suited to connect an investment account to the correct person. Test signatory authority and beneficial interests before connecting the investment balance to the subject; the required investigative decision is to trace transfers from a brokerage account.

D:

Gross securities value can overstate net wealth when financed; that is the consideration when a team tries to reconcile margin borrowing against investment assets. Reconcile the outstanding loan balance and collateral rights before attributing net equity to the subject; the current question is about how to trace transfers from a brokerage account.

E:

Recurring distributions can point to investments omitted from disclosures; this responds to a different operational need to identify hidden holdings through dividend receipts. The issuer and ownership chain need verification; this case asks for a means to trace transfers from a brokerage account instead.

Question 617

A subject receives regular dividend credits without disclosing the related securities. Which step is most appropriate to identify hidden holdings through dividend receipts?

  1. Trace paying agents and underlying account holdings
  2. Examine agreements, ownership registers, valuations, and bank settlement
  3. Include leverage and outstanding obligations in the analysis
  4. Obtain authorized brokerage trade and cash-distribution records

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Recurring distributions can point to investments omitted from disclosures. The issuer and ownership chain need verification.

Incorrect Answers

B:

A contract alone does not prove consideration changed hands; it describes an action suited to assess proceeds from a purported private share sale. Verification of buyer, transfer, and actual funds helps test legitimacy; the investigative step being tested here is how to identify hidden holdings through dividend receipts.

C:

Gross securities value can overstate net wealth when financed; this is a sensible safeguard where the issue is to reconcile margin borrowing against investment assets. Reconcile the outstanding loan balance and collateral rights before attributing net equity to the subject; it does not address the specific requirement to identify hidden holdings through dividend receipts.

D:

A sale may generate proceeds, but the examiner must show actual cash availability and destination; it belongs to a different stage of work: trying to trace transfers from a brokerage account. Market statements alone may not prove transfer; it does not address the specific requirement to identify hidden holdings through dividend receipts.

Question 618

A portfolio's market value has increased alongside securities-backed borrowing. Its brokerage statement names a private holding company, while transaction approvals carry initials that resemble the subject's. Which TWO checks separate net investment exposure from borrowing and establish actual control of the account? Choose TWO.

  1. Treat matching initials on an approval extract as conclusive proof of beneficial ownership
  2. Count the portfolio's gross securities value as the subject's net wealth without checking the brokerage loan balance
  3. Include leverage and outstanding obligations in the analysis
  4. Identify the holding company’s actual beneficial owners and its authorized brokerage signatories using lawful records
  5. Attribute the account to the subject solely because the LLC and the subject use the same mailing address

Explanation

Correct Answers

C:

Gross securities value can overstate net wealth when financed. Debt and collateral terms matter. Reconcile the outstanding loan balance and collateral rights before attributing net equity to the subject.

D:

The brokerage account is formally held by a company, while a set of initials appears on transaction approvals. Establish actual beneficial interests and legally effective signatory authority before attributing the investment to the subject.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Initials may refer to a delegated trader or another employee and cannot establish beneficial entitlement. Source account records and verified authority are required before the holding company is linked to the subject.

B:

Borrowed funds and pledged securities reduce or qualify the net exposure represented by a portfolio valuation. The calculation needs outstanding liabilities, collateral terms and verified ownership before attribution.

E:

A shared service address or mailbox can be used by unrelated entities. Ownership and authority require corporate records, authenticated account documents, and signatory or beneficial-control evidence.

Question 619

A securities statement names an LLC sharing an address with the subject. What action should the investigation team take to connect an investment account to the correct person?

  1. Obtain authorized brokerage trade and cash-distribution records
  2. Examine agreements, ownership registers, valuations, and bank settlement
  3. Check beneficial owners and account signatories lawfully
  4. Include leverage and outstanding obligations in the analysis

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

Common addresses may be administrative coincidences. Control and entitlement require supporting records. Test signatory authority and beneficial interests before connecting the investment balance to the subject.

Incorrect Answers

A:

A sale may generate proceeds, but the examiner must show actual cash availability and destination; it protects the separate goal to trace transfers from a brokerage account. Market statements alone may not prove transfer; the examiner still needs to connect an investment account to the correct person.

B:

A contract alone does not prove consideration changed hands; this distinction matters when investigators must assess proceeds from a purported private share sale. Verification of buyer, transfer, and actual funds helps test legitimacy; it does not settle how to connect an investment account to the correct person in this situation.

D:

Gross securities value can overstate net wealth when financed; it describes an action suited to reconcile margin borrowing against investment assets. Reconcile the outstanding loan balance and collateral rights before attributing net equity to the subject; the immediate evidentiary task here is to connect an investment account to the correct person.

Question 620

The subject says a large payment came from selling privately held shares to a friend. Which investigative method is best suited to assess proceeds from a purported private share sale?

  1. Track paying agents and underlying account holdings
  2. Obtain authorized brokerage trade and cash-distribution records
  3. Check beneficial owners and account signatories lawfully
  4. Include leverage and outstanding obligations in the analysis
  5. Examine agreements, ownership registers, valuations, and bank settlement

Explanation

Correct Answer

E:

A contract alone does not prove consideration changed hands. Verification of buyer, transfer, and actual funds helps test legitimacy.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Recurring distributions can point to investments omitted from disclosures; this concerns the distinct task of deciding how to identify hidden holdings through dividend receipts. The issuer and ownership chain need verification; this case asks for a means to assess proceeds from a purported private share sale instead.

B:

A sale may generate proceeds, but the examiner must show actual cash availability and destination; this concerns the distinct task of deciding how to trace transfers from a brokerage account. Market statements alone may not prove transfer; the required investigative decision is to assess proceeds from a purported private share sale.

C:

Common addresses may be administrative coincidences; its purpose in an investigation is to connect an investment account to the correct person. Test signatory authority and beneficial interests before connecting the investment balance to the subject; it serves another purpose, not the immediate need to assess proceeds from a purported private share sale.

D:

Gross securities value can overstate net wealth when financed; its purpose in an investigation is to reconcile margin borrowing against investment assets. Reconcile the outstanding loan balance and collateral rights before attributing net equity to the subject; the facts presented call first for a way to assess proceeds from a purported private share sale.

Certified Fraud Examiner - Investigation (CFE - Investigation) Practice Tests