Q&A with Virginia Yu, CFE

This past spring, Virginia Yu took some time off to pursue her goal of becoming a CFE. After attending a virtual CFE Exam Review Course, she finally became a CFE. With her credential, Yu feels that she is now able to provide more insight on how to detect and present fraud within my organization.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Yu: I received the notification that I passed the exam on April 5, 2021.

Coach: Please describe your experience of attending the four-day virtual CFE Exam Review Course. What did you like most about the Review Course?

Yu: I enjoyed the format of the virtual Review Course. I had some initial concerns about whether I would get the same attention from the instructor as I would in an in-person experience; however, the layout of the virtual software was very user-friendly and interactive.

I was able to ask questions easily during the class, and the instructors were passionate and experienced about what they were teaching. It was a long day, but the instructors, John Gill and Bethmara Kessler, incorporated their own real-life experiences, plus videos, into the class. That made it easier for us to understand the materials. It was worth it.

Coach: Did you review the CFE Exam Prep Course prior to attending the Review Course? If so, how often did you study?

Yu: Yes, I did use the Prep Course. I followed the suggestions provided with the materials and set a timeline for myself using the Prep Course online tool. From start to finish, I spent almost three months studying. I studied for an hour each day, plus four to five hours each day on weekends. My score on the Practice Exams was 85%, on average. For my weaker topics, I attempted the Review and Practice Exam questions at least twice prior to attending the Review Course.

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Yu: Obtaining the CFE credential demonstrates that I have received advanced training as an anti-fraud professional. The Law section helped me grow my knowledge of different legal systems and their processes. I feel that I am now able to provide more insight on how to detect and prevent fraud within my organization. The certification also provides me with another level of professional experience that will allow me to expand into other positions within my field.

Coach: Would you recommend the Review Course to your colleagues?

Yu: Yes, certainly. I found the virtual Review Course to be efficient and highly effective in helping me prepare for the CFE Exam.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Yu: I began my career in first-line banking business, an then I moved to the second line of defense in risk management. Eventually, I moved to the third line of defense in internal audit. Fighting fraud has become an integral component of my job. As part of the risk assessment that our team completes, we assess and monitor the risk of fraud throughout each phase of the internal audit that we complete. I want to learn more about this risk to be able to better assess its implications when planning our audit approach. The CFE credential provided me with new knowledge that will enable me to provide more insightful, valuable, and timely advice to senior management for audit observations related to the risk of fraud.

Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Yu: Exercise like biking, strength training, and yoga help me to maintain my health and work-life balance during this time. I also enjoy creative activities like baking, photography, and interior design.

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Yu: Set a goal and timeline for yourself. Let your family know about this commitment, which will allow you to have some quiet time to focus on studying. The online Prep Course helped me identify which topics and areas needed greater focus. I also used the Fraud Examiners Manual for any topics that I needed further in-depth understanding. Joining the Review Course will definitely help increase one’s chances of passing the CFE Exam.

Q&A with Frederick Landis, CFE

Frederick Landis, CFE, of California received his CFE credential this past spring by attending a virtual CFE Exam Review Course. Soon after, Landis began to start seeing the benefits of earning the credential. Landis also will be joining us at our ACFE Annual Fraud Conference this year as a speaker on behalf of LexisNexis. When Landis is not working and ready to relax, he enjoys outdoor activities, including sports and barbecuing.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Landis: I received my credential on April 5, 2021.

Coach: Please describe your experience of attending the four-day virtual CFE Exam Review Course, and what did you like most about the course?

Landis: The four-day session was a very intense and hands-on experience covering all aspects of fraud. The interaction with instructors and hosts was better than expected, given the virtual environment.

Coach: Did you review the CFE Exam Prep Course prior to attending the course? If so, how often did you study?

Landis: I put in numerous hours of studying utilizing the self-study program and mock tests. Given my work hours, I used many evenings and weekends in preparation for the CFE Exam.

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Landis I have just begun to see the benefits of earning the CFE credential in my profession. With a constantly changing landscape of fraud threats, having the CFE credential allows me to take a holistic view with a backdrop of law, investigation, transactions, and prevention.

Coach: Would you recommend the Review Course to your colleagues?

Landis: Yes, it is a great way to understand the complete fraud landscape and apply it to the decisions and analyses of fraud-fighting tools, along with presenting critical data for verification and authentication.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Landis: With a background in the contact center and CRM (customer relationship management), I have learned that organizations that integrate their fraud strategies with customer experience are more successful in fraud prevention. This is what compels me to help organizations assuage the rising cost of fraud.

Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun, and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Landis: I enjoy many outdoor activities and sports, including hiking, golf, and working out, and barbecuing numerous types of food.

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Landis: Utilize the tools available and the Prep Course, and tackle the more difficult subjects first.

Q&A with Floyd W. Harris Jr., CFE

Floyd Harris Jr. of Texas recently became a CFE after attending the virtual CFE Exam Review Course. Harris feels that his new CFE credential has solidified him as the subject-matter expert in his department. When Harris is not working, he enjoys outdoor activities with his wife and hanging out with family and friends.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Harris: I received notification on December 2, 2020.

Coach: Please describe your experience of attending the four-day virtual CFE Exam Review Course. What did you like most about the Review Course?

Harris: I thoroughly enjoyed the virtual Review Course. The convenience and experience of a one-on-one instructor enhanced my absorption of the material.

Coach: Please describe your experience of taking the CFE Exam each day after attending the Review Course.

Harris: As I was taking the test, it was as if the instructors were reading the questions to me, and it felt like a continuation of the class. This aided in the recall of the material and reduced any possible test anxiety.

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Harris: It has solidified me as the subject-matter expert for our department. Lines of communication and collaboration have been opened with other CFE professionals to fight fraud in our industry. The CFE credential has also opened my eyes to different fraud schemes and scenarios that are prevalent in my industry and others.

Coach: Would you recommend the Review Course to your colleagues?

Harris: Absolutely! I attended a virtual Review Course, and it was like having my own personal tutor!

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

I have been in insurance and financial services for several years. There is a shared skill set between analyzing risk and detecting fraud. As I began analyzing data and working security cases, I evolved and morphed into a fraud fighter. The work fascinates me. I love to use data analytics and pattern recognition to detect and prevent fraudulent activity. Also, I feel great satisfaction in protecting the clients’ and company’s assets by thwarting a bad actor’s intentions.

Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun, and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Harris: Reading and chess allow me to keep my brain active and learn new things. Swimming, biking, hiking, and being with my wife/best friend and canine companion help me maintain my health and work-life balance. And I’m a passionate home cook, always ready to try a new recipe or elevate an old one. Also, I always enjoy just hanging out with family and friends.

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Harris: Join a local ACFE chapter and actively attend meetings. You will meet many people from different fields and learn about a vast range of fraud-related events and activities. As for studying, use the technique that suits you the best. I found it extremely helpful to use the Prep Course and then take the class.

Q&A with Dessa Nalwood-Arrow, CFE

Dessa Nalwood-Arrow, CFE, of Arizona received her CFE credential this past fall by attending a virtual CFE Exam Review Course. Nalwood-Arrow says that earning the CFE credential offers the opportunity to expand one’s personal work and investigative experience. When Nalwood-Arrow is not working, she enjoys traveling.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Nalwood-Arrow: I received my official congratulations for the CFE credential on December 2, 2020.

Coach: Please describe your experience of attending the four-day virtual CFE Exam Review Course, and what did you like most about the course?

Nalwood-Arrow: The four-day virtual CFE Exam Review Course was exactly what I needed to bridge my work experience and the conceptual expectations necessary for passing the CFE Exam. The format offered spoke best to my personal learning style, granting me the opportunity to lean in on audio, visual, and tactical inputs for better comprehension. What I enjoyed most about the course was the ability to traverse this learning experience with like-minded individuals across various fraud industries, and I especially loved the personal and real-life connections to the material created by our instructors.  

Coach:  Please describe your experience of taking the CFE Exam each day after class.

Nalwood-Arrow: I was incredibly impressed by the proctored experience for taking the CFE Exam. The system was straightforward and easy to use. As someone with exam anxiety, it was helpful to have control over when I took the exam with the same-day flexibility to test. I loved being able to jump immediately into the sections of the exam that I was most comfortable with, while still having the extra time after class to review my own notes for added comfort.

Coach: Did you review the CFE Exam Prep Course prior to attending the Review Course? If so, how often did you study?

Nalwood-Arrow: Yes, in the week prior to my scheduled virtual event, I strictly dedicated myself to achieving a passing score for each practice section of the exam. I worked on one section at a time until I passed, and then I moved on to the next section.

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Nalwood-Arrow: Similar to how the virtual event offered me exposure to a number of colleagues across various fraud industries, I believe that the CFE credential offers the opportunity to expand one’s personal work and investigative experience beyond whatever segment or industry they are already familiar with. While I have not directly worked in or contributed to the health care industry, for example, the tenets of the CFE credential provide me with a base understanding of the more specific applications that apply to this realm. One the greatest benefits realized upon returning to work after the Review Course was the direct and immediate improvement to my investigative approach by applying CFE-specific topics and/or techniques case by case. The best way I can describe it is that I have a whole new toolbox of powerful skills to fight fraud effectively.

Coach: Would you recommend the Review Course to your colleagues? 

Nalwood-Arrow: I would definitely recommend the Review Course to anyone who wants to achieve the CFE credential. The value in having a network of colleagues shooting toward the same goal and getting real-world applications of the concepts cannot be realized in a sole pursuit outside of this format.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Nalwood-Arrow: At the root of it, I think the stark difference between those who commit fraud and those who fight it is who it benefits in the end. I live my life each day on purpose, both in my professional and personal realms. My ultimate goal is to leave a legacy where I will have created a ripple effect of positivity, influence, and good intention that is realized as a collective reward. Because of this, I think my passion for fighting fraud is centered on a value that is best framed by my company as “integrity without compromise,” fueled, of course, by my solution-oriented mindset and the general care and concern for the well-being of something—often someone—beyond myself. So I guess you could say that fighting fraud just happens to be a perfect intersection between who I am and what I can do for others.

Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Nalwood-Arrow: I am definitely guilty of the perpetual strive for a well-rounded work-life balance, so I love vacation. Traveling is one of my favorite things to do, whether it’s a local site nearby or across the pond. I love being able to experience something outside of my frame of reference. While I’d never consider myself a history buff, it’s incredible to see how history has offered us the opportunity to witness our growth.

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Nalwood-Arrow: Be kind to yourself. If you’re preparing to sit for the CFE Exam, you’ve got a great foundation to draw from. Use your strengths to overcome the elements that you are worried about or strike you as a little harder to easily digest and commit to conquering them as part of your study path. If you have to listen to something, then set that little robot voice to read the Fraud Examiners Manual to you in the background. If concepts are easier to digest visually, then map them out. And don’t forget to lean in on what you already know!

Q&A with Arlette Anguiano Guzman, CFE

Arlette Anguiano Guzman of Texas recently became a CFE after attending a virtual CFE Exam Review Course. Since Anguiano Guzman received her CFE credential, she quickly saw positive changes and she is now able to provide more insight on how to detect and prevent fraud within her organization. When Anguiano Guzman is not working, she enjoys traveling, looking for new plant nurseries, and purchasing rare plants.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Guzman: I was certified on February 9, 2021.

Coach: Please describe your experience of attending the four-day virtual CFE Exam Review Course. What did you like most about the Review Course?

Guzman: It was a great experience. As a group, we were able to share information from different backgrounds, but the best part were the presenters. I really enjoyed all the sessions.

Coach: Please describe your experience of taking the CFE Exam each day after class.

Guzman: I truly believe that the best option is presenting the CFE Exam after the class, as you will have all the information fresh in your brain.

Coach: Did you review the CFE Exam Prep Course prior to attending the Review Course? If so, how often did you study?

Guzman: Yes, I did the CFE Exam Prep Course three times for each section. In most of the sessions, my score was at least 89. That made me feel very comfortable. For about two months, I usually studied a couple of hours per day after work, and it worked out well.

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Guzman: You can see the changes rapidly. You are more respected—professionally speaking—and personally, I was able to provide more insightful information at work, ideas on how to apply data analytics, and knowledge on how to detect and prevent fraud within my organization.

Coach: Would you recommend this Review Course to your colleagues?

Guzman: Of course. Most of the content, except for the Law section, is very intuitive, and in most of the cases, you just need to apply common sense.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Guzman: I am all about following the rules and exceeding expectations. I consider myself as having a high level of morals, values, and respect for other individuals and things, which fits perfectly with this certification. I felt really engaged all the time.

Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun, and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Guzman: I love being outdoors, which brings me the passion and the journey to purchase rare plants. I am constantly looking for new nurseries around the United States. The most compelling part of it is seeing how these plants have the ability to evolve and regenerate in different environments. I love to see them grow new leaves. And, of course, travel around the world!

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Guzman: Definitely use the CFE Exam Prep Course, as it is a very useful tool and user-friendly. It will give you the ability to measure your knowledge and focus on the areas that you need to study more. I would also encourage you to read other materials, such as the Report to the Nations and other interesting publications from the ACFE. You will enjoy the journey!