The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) headquartered in Austin, Texas is the world's largest anti-fraud organization and the premier provider of anti-fraud training and education. With members in most countries, the ACFE supports professionals working to detect, prevent, and investigate fraud. It is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
The Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) is a credential awarded by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) since 1989, who established and administers the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential.
Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) span many professions and skilled professionals including auditors, investigators, legal, accounting, financial, or insurance professionals, compliance or governance officers, law enforcement members, security and loss prevention officers – all of whom are committed to protecting businesses, organizations and communities from fraud and other financial crime. A Certified Fraud Examiner can be appointed by a court of jurisdiction as an expert witness.
In order to maintain their credential, all Certified Fraud Examiners must complete 20 credit hours of training a year and pay the annual ACFE membership dues.
Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) are respected in every industry, recognized around the world and feared by every fraudster. Why? Because earning the CFE credential requires commitment – along with time, focus and a passion for fighting fraud. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) is here to help you at every step. In return for the challenging work of becoming a CFE, you'll be rewarded with a more lucrative, fulfilling and world-changing career. Please click here to start our journey to earning your CFE credential. You may also find the CFE Credential Exam Candidate Handbook very useful.
To become a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), one must:
Fraud is constantly evolving; therefore, Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) need to stay current in the fraud examination profession by completing Continuing Professional Education (CPE). (Some individuals may be more familiar with the term, Continuing Professional Development – CPD.)
To maintain their credential, CFEs must obtain a minimum of 20 CPE credit hours during each annual compliance period; at least 10 of these must relate directly to the detection and deterrence of fraud, and 2 must relate directly to ethics. A ACFE CPE credit is based on a 50-minute hour. More information is found here.
You can apply online, download the PDF application on the package selection screen, or by contacting an ACFE Member Services Representative toll-free in Austin, Texas.
Chapters are local, member-run groups recognized by the ACFE that are made up of individuals. They provide region-specific opportunities for professional development, networking, training, and community-building. Multiple persons from a single organization or business may join the chapter as individuals. Business and organizations are also welcome to sponsor a local chapter or local chapter events.
NO, the ACFE-GTA Chapter does NOT investigate or receive reports of fraud.
If you suspect a fraud or other financial crime has taken place, please contact the appropriate law enforcement agency (usually your local police service) first. The local police service will suggest if you need to report the matter to an appropriate regulatory authority (such as a provincial securities commission).
You should also report the matter to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) by phone at 1-888-495-8501 or online here. The CAFC is operated primarily by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ontario Provincial Police. Where possible, the CAFC can disrupt fraudulent activities and scams, and assist in preventing further harm.
Please remember, the possibility of getting your money back after you have been a victim of a scam or a fraudulent scheme is small to none.
No, chapter membership is separate from your global ACFE membership. The annual fee for the ACFE-GTA Chapter is collected separately and helps support local programming, events, and chapter operations. Local chapters receive NO funding from the ACFE global office.
Yes. Chapter “Members” are Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) or Associates of the ACFE (primarily studying to obtain the CFE Credential).
“Chapter Affiliates” are individuals who have NOT joined the ACFE and are not CFEs, but are interested in learning about or supporting fraud and other financial crime detection, prevention, and investigation in their local communities.
The ACFE-GTA Chapter also has a “Student Affiliate” category of membership, for individuals in Canada enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program at the (Canadian) college or university level. **This is different from the ACFE Student Membership, which is required if a qualifying student wishes to earn their CFE credential at the ACFE special student rate.**
Chapter membership offers unique local value, including:
While based in the Greater Toronto Area, the ACFE-GTA Chapter serves professionals across the Greater Toronto Area & Beyond, including the Golden Horseshoe, Central, Southern and Western Ontario.
Almost all of our programming is virtual (using Zoom), which means geographic boundaries won't necessarily impede participation and earning of your Continuing Professi0onal Education (CPE) credit hours. Whether you're in Kingston, Belleville, Toronto, London, Hamilton, Windsor or anywhere in between — if you're looking for high-quality, affordable, and accessible Canadian anti-fraud and anti-financial crime training content, the ACFE-GTA Chapter is here for you.
The ACFE and the ACFE-GTA Chapter is committed to cooperation with the other ACFE Chapters in Canada. The Chapter also connects with like-minded professional associations (e.g., Association of Chartered Certified Accountants – ACCA, the Information Systems Audit and Control Association – ISACA, and The Institute of Internal Auditors-IIA, etc.) who are involved in the training and provision of networking opportunities to their respective members.
Yes! In addition to our robust virtual lineup, we host select in-person events throughout the year. These may include professional development sessions, guest speakers, social mixers, or our annual networking night. They're a great way to build relationships, reconnect with peers, and strengthen your local fraud-fighting community.
Absolutely! We're always looking for passionate and engaged members to contribute. Keep in mind though, we have a limited number of volunteer opportunities available at any one time and we cannot always guarantee or accommodate all requests.
Volunteering is a great way to build your network, gain leadership experience, and support the chapter's mission. Opportunities range from helping at events to joining a committee. If you're interested, reach out to us via our contact page.
Click here to join the ACFE-GTA Chapter now.