ACFE Updated CFE-Fraud-Prevention-and-Deterrence Exam Questions and Answers by lauren

Privilege of Fraud Examination Reports:

Reports prepared by fraud examiners are not inherently privileged. Privilege depends on the legal framework, the purpose of the report, and whether the attorney-client privilege or work-product doctrine applies.

Without specific legal protection, reports may be subject to disclosure.

Conclusion:Fraud examination reports are not automatically privileged.

The ACFE research consistently finds that the majority of occupational fraudsters are first-time offenders. Specifically, “85% of occupational fraud perpetrators had never been punished or terminated for fraud-related conduct prior to the crimes in this study.”

A formal anti-fraud policy should be clear, legally sound, and consistently applied. The CFE Fraud Prevention and Deterrence material explains that management should consult legal counsel when developing the policy and should ensure that every allegation and every suspected offender is handled uniformly. Uniform handling reduces claims of unfair treatment and supports a credible zero-tolerance stance. Option A is incorrect because legal considerations should not be avoided; they are important in policy development. Option C is too broad because an effective policy should be specific enough to guide conduct and enforcement. Option D is also incorrect because examples of prohibited conduct help employees understand expectations and help management support disciplinary action. Therefore, option B is the best answer.

The Auditors’ Fraud-Related Responsibilities chapter states that internal audit has formal reporting obligations to senior management and the board. Under Standard 2060, the chief audit executive must report periodically to senior management and the board on the internal audit activity’s purpose, authority, responsibility, and performance. The manual further states that reporting must include significant risk and control issues, including fraud risks, governance issues, and other matters requiring the attention of senior management and the board. This clearly supports the requirement to discuss significant residual fraud risks with both groups. The other options are inconsistent with the manual because internal audit is not supposed to withhold fraud-related results to preserve independence, and communication with the board is expressly part of its role. Therefore, option A is correct.