ACFE Updated CFE-Financial-Transactions-and-Fraud-Schemes Exam Questions and Answers by aasiyah

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:W. Steve Albrecht’s Fraud Scale introduced the relationship between pressure, opportunity, and integrity. He and his colleagues identified 81 red flags or behavioral indicators of occupational fraud and abuse based on these three dimensions. Therefore, the correct answer is A. 81.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

B. 82 / C. 83 / D. 84 – Distractors; none match the number identified in the fraud scale research.

Key Concept:Fraud Scale — Red Flags of occupational fraud.

Detailed Explanation:

Rationale for Correct Answer:The “outside the accounting system” approach occurs when perpetrators simply fabricate financial statements without regard to actual accounting records. Fraudsters may create entirely false reports using external tools (typewriters, spreadsheets, word processors).

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A. Organized accounting – Not a fraud classification.

B. Playing the accounting – Uses the real accounting system but manipulates entries.

C. Beating accounting – Refers to overriding controls but within the system.

D. Outside accounting system – Correct, as it involves entirely fabricated statements.

Key Concept:Outside-the-books fraud — fabricated financial reports not tied to accounting records.

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: A disproportionate increase in COGS without a corresponding increase in sales is a red flag for inventory theft or misappropriation. Theft reduces ending inventory, which artificially inflates COGS, while sales remain unchanged or grow modestly.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

A – Warranty liabilities affect expenses, not COGS.

B – Fewer sales would reduce both revenue and COGS proportionally, not cause a large disparity.

C – Sales returns reduce revenue, not inflate COGS.

Key Concept: Using analytical review to detect inventory theft via COGS anomalies.