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2021Report toMembersPresented by the Association ofCertified Fraud ExaminersReport to Members 20211

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTIf 2020 was a year of change, 2021 was a year of growth.You and your fellow ACFE members took to our new virtual worldwith grace and boldly stepped into the unknown that was 2021.You were not only prepared for the new year, but you were alsoready to thrive in it. You pushed through difficult terrain andongoing challenges to learn, connect and fight fraud together.We saw fraudsters continue to take advantage of change andinstability in the environment; cyberfraud, ransomware attacksand unemployment fraud were front and center in the news thisyear. However, you chose to adapt, band together, and increaseyour efforts to guard against these and other schemes. Through itall, you kept prevention and security measures at the forefront ofyour work. While venturing into the uncharted, you adopted newtechnologies, honed your skills and expanded your network ofpeers.You were not onlyprepared for the newyear, but you werealso ready to thrivein it.That global network of fraud fighters has also reached newheights; together we are now made up of more than 90,000 antifraud professionals worldwide. As we collectively and individuallycelebrate our growth in the past year, I ask you to continue withthe drive and resolve you have shown throughout 2021 — foryourself, for your organizations and for the ACFE community.Bruce Dorris, J.D., CFE, CPAPresident and CEOReport to Members 20212

GUARDINGAGAINSTFRAUDWe’ve seen a focus on preventativemeasures across industries thanks toall of you working as ambassadors forfraud awareness and prevention. In 2021,ACFE membership officially grew to morethan 90,000 fraud fighters. Together, youand other members make up the world’slargest anti-fraud community.In 20216,061 associatemembers becameCertified FraudExaminers.Report to Members 20213

WORKING TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESSThe ACFE’s International Fraud Awareness Week is a time whereanti-fraud professionals around the world raise fraud awarenessand educate members of their community about how to preventand detect fraud. In 2021, 1,156 organizations from 110 countriessigned up to support Fraud Week. They used infographics,educational videos and social media images to spread awarenessboth virtually and through in-person events. ACFE local chapters,members of the ACFE Corporate Alliance program and membersof the ACFE Law Enforcement and Government Alliance especiallystepped up and organized a multitude of virtual trainings, webinarsand activities.1,156 supporters#FraudWeek and related hashtags were used5,965 times across social mediaTOP USED TERMS:#FraudWeek3,711International FraudAwareness Week1,544Fraud AwarenessWeek451Report to Members 20214

CONTRIBUTING YOUR INSIGHTAs the COVID-19 pandemic remained a major focus of our lives,you provided us with important data to assess how organizationsare preparing for the “next normal” for fraud fighters. The ACFE,in partnership with Grant Thornton, collected and compiled yourobservations, experiences and perspectives to create The NextNormal: Preparing for a Post-Pandemic Fraud Landscape, abenchmarking report exploring the current and expected effectsof COVID-19 on fraud risks and programs. Your responses showedthat: More than half of organizations have uncovered more fraudthan usual since the onset of the pandemic, and 71% expectYou also helped your fellow fraud fighters gain insight intohow you conduct fraud awareness training. Understandinghow other organizations approach this component of theiranti-fraud program helps anti-fraud professionals like youbenchmark initiatives and identify best practices. Yourcontributions to an ACFE survey were used to create theFraud Awareness Training Benchmarking Report. Some ofthe key findings of this study were: 71% of respondents said their organization has a fraudawareness training program; 29% do not.the level of fraud to continue increasing into 2022. More than 80% of organizations have alreadyimplemented one or more changes to their anti-fraudprograms in response to the pandemic.LACK OF EXPERTISELACK OF BUDGETNOT PART OFORGANIZATIONALCULTURE9%12%Of those organizations that do not offer fraudawareness training, the most commonly citedreason for the lack of training is that it is notpart of the organizational culture.37%LACK OFPERCEIVED RETURNON INVESTMENT12%14%COMPETINGTIME DEMANDS16%OTHERReport to Members 20215

82 Virtualevents held215,916.5 VirtualCPE earnedDEFYING BORDERS:A NEWVIRTUAL WORLDAs we continue to navigate ournew virtual world, we want tothank you all for making this yearanother success. You went beyondgeographical boundaries and timezones and connected with fellowfraud fighters worldwide.Report to Members 20216

LEARNING TOGETHER, VIRTUALLYThroughout 2021, we continued to hold ACFE events virtually.With each conference, summit, seminar, workshop, webinarand CFE Exam Review Course, you have been diligently tuningin to educate yourself on the latest topics and tactics in fraudprevention, detection and investigation.The ACFE Community — an online,members-only discussion forum — isthe world’s largest virtual network offraud fighters. This year, membersshared their vast experiences andknowledge, with more posts, moretopics and more participants in onlineprograms. Here’s how you showed upfor your community in 2021.CREATING ACONNECTED COMMUNITY 9,169 POSTS 1,188 TOPICS 2,765 UNIQUECONTRIBUTORS32ND ANNUALACFE GLOBAL FRAUDCONFERENCEHere are some highlights from this year’s conferences:Keynote speakers includedPreet Bharara, Robert Herjavec,Thuli Madonsela, Dan McCrumand more.FIRST ANNUAL ACFEWOMEN’S SUMMIT2021 ACFE FRAUDCONFERENCE EUROPEIn 2021, we held the first annualACFE Women’s Summit whereattendees gathered virtually tohear from expert speakers, shareideas and resources and supporteach other as they navigate theirprofessional journeys.261 ATTENDEES1,827 HOURS OFCPE EARNED2021 ACFE FRAUDCONFERENCEMIDDLE EAST5,089 ATTENDEES101,780 HOURS OFCPE EARNED2021 ACFE FRAUDCONFERENCE CANADAKeynote speakers includedDan McCrum; Pamela Barnum,J.D.; Dr. Attracta Lagan; BernardO’Donnell; Misha Glenny andKlaus Moosmayer, Ph.D.Keynote speakers includedTakara Small; Sarah Paquet;Garth Sheriff, CPA; Sarah Rossand Andre Gauthier.265 ATTENDEES5,300 HOURS OFCPE EARNED266 ATTENDEES5,320 HOURS OFCPE EARNED2021 ACFE FRAUDCONFERENCEASIA-PACIFICKeynote speakers includedPreet Bharara and PamelaBarnum, J.D.Keynote speakers includedPav Gill; Erika Cheung; CynthiaCooper CFE; David Lim;Stefania Palma andBernard O’Donnell.208 ATTENDEES1,451 HOURS OFCPE EARNED199 ATTENDEES3,980 HOURS OFCPE EARNEDReport to Members 20217

ACFE CHAPTERS2021 was a year for ACFE Chapters to try new things and grow their numbers. Local chapterswere able to continue thriving and assisting members in their anti-fraud careers through virtual,hybrid and in-person events.196CHAPTERSWORLDWIDE1,400 CHAPTEREVENTSVietnamChapter #240Indicates countrieswith chaptersIndicates newchapter locationsSri LankaChapter #242MadagascarChapter #241Report to Members 20218

90-DAY CFE EXAM CHALLENGEMore ACFE members than ever challenged themselves to earn their CFE credential in 2021. Many participated in the 90-Day CFE ExamChallenge and received support — such as study plans, tips and live Q&A sessions — from their peers and ACFE staff. Held three timesper year, the challenge helps members stay motivated and on track to reach their goal of preparing for and passing the CFE Exam in threemonths.ChallengeWinnersPast challenge participant,Shaena Kanion, was able topass the CFE Exam in justunder three months andachieve her goal of becominga Certified Fraud Examiner.1612018201927636420202021507Hearing the successstories of my fellowchallengers inspiredme and pushed meacross the finish line.Report to Members 20219

EMPOWERINGOTHERSFighting fraud globally is nota one-person job. This year,you committed to helping otheranti-fraud professionals furthertheir careers to work towards ourcommon goal: combatting fraud.Report to Members 202110

ACFE FOUNDATIONWhile these past two years have been financially challengingfor many, ACFE members donated generously to the ACFEFoundation in 2021. However, ACFE members still chose todonate to the ACFE Foundation. By donating to the ACFEFoundation, you support your fellow anti-fraud professionals andthe next generation of fraud fighters through the Ritchie-JenningsMemorial Scholarship, new research and other educationalprojects.Paulina Rocha Salas is a past recipient of the ACFE’s RitchieJennings Memorial Scholarship. She is a graduate student inthe Accounting MBA program at the Marilyn Davies College ofBusiness at the University of Houston-Downtown and is expectedto graduate in the summer of 2022. She is currently employed asa senior associate in Weaver’s Forensics and Litigation Servicespractice.“In addition to covering tuition and fees, the scholarship alsoawards a one-year ACFE Student Membership and has thepotential to open doors for you in the field,” Paulina said.“Being recognized by the ACFE Foundation has been extremelybeneficial and it is a great honor and privilege. I hope to beengaged as an expert witness, as it is a vital role in my occupationand would represent a huge milestone in my career.”Along with supporting the scholarship program that createsopportunities for students like Paulina, the ACFE Foundationsupports the ACFE Research Institute, which helps fund cuttingedge studies that advance your profession’s collective body ofknowledge. It provides anti-fraud professionals like you with newtools and information to prevent, detect and deter fraud.MEMBERS DONATED 83,000 to the ACFE FoundationCHAPTERS ALONEDONATED NEARLY 110,000to the ACFE Foundation,reaching a new recordin 2021.In addition to coveringtuition and fees, thescholarship also awardsa one-year ACFE StudentMembership and has thepotential to open doorsfor you in the field.PAULINA ROCHA SALASRitchie-JenningsScholarship memorialrecipientReport to Members 202111

MENTORING PROGRAMNot only did you donate money to support fellow fraud fighters,you also contributed your time and expertise through the ACFEMentoring Program. Connecting one-on-one with a fellow member— from any part of the world — gives you the opportunity to bothshare your wisdom with others and learn from leaders in the field.It’s a great way to develop yourself professionally, just like Rupertand Lena.“Lena has taught me more than she will ever realize. She askssome profound and tricky questions, making me examine my logicand test assumptions I’d made. Her incisive mind has made theprocess very fun and exciting. However, the most rewarding part isseeing Lena work through these questions and come up with cleversolutions to whatever challenges she is facing.”“I was only looking for career advancement advice, but Ruperthelped and encouraged me to dig further for my real needsand passion. He is very supportive, not only connecting meto his personal resources but also sharing plenty of effectivemethodologies and experiences. His way of confronting problems isvery inspiring to me, which somehow simplifies the crux, quickensthe solution-finding and eases the problem-solving process.”- Lena Lin, CFE, Mentee- Rupert Evill, CFE, Mentor2021861 participants286 mentors575 menteesReport to Members 202112