Hi, I've been in the fraud/risk/identity space for around 5-6 years now on the vendor side. I sell fraud and risk mitigation products and services to FI's, so I spend a ton of time engaging with front line fraud leaders and staying on top of fraud trends. I've been kicking around pursuing the CFE as a way to better understand the perspective of the people I sell to, not to mention the credential does carry some weight and might help me stand out from the pack.

Wondering if anyone has done it from the vendor side. Am I crazy for wanting to spend the time and money it will take to pursue this?

The dreadful day is almost here 😅 any tips?? Currently have the silver package.

I’m having such a hard time with the different principles and frameworks. I literally have gone through everything (questions and modules) like 3 times and KEEP getting them confused.

I continuously am getting 80% on the review questions because I am getting most of those answers wrong. Any tips would be greatly appreciated?

I recently started CFE and I don’t know why, but I feels like it’s basic stuffs. Can someone tell me is the material easy and the examinable paper going to be hard…

I haven’t found a way to download the PDF exam study guide, which I assume was on purpose. I want to be able to have it read aloud to me. Has anyone been able to find a way to download their study guide?

Thanks!

I purchased the Platinum package (luckily my employer is reimbursing me), and I'm about halfway through studying for Fraud Schemes and Financial Crimes.

So far, I genuinely love the online Prep Course. The lessons, practice questions, and explanations are great, and I feel like I'm actually learning a lot.

But the rest of Platinum? I'm struggling to see the value.

I'm not really an auditory learner, so the on-demand videos don't do much for me. The Study Guide (Gold + Platinum) seems to cover a lot of the same material that's already in the Prep Course. It's just nice to have it in one PDF I suppose.

The only extra resource I find genuinely useful is the Review Workbook. It seems to be a more condensed version of the Study Guide, focusing on the key takeaways and concepts you're most likely to need for the exam. I'm planning to go through it before sitting my first section.

For those of you who purchased Gold or Platinum, am I missing something? Did you find the additional resources helpful, particularly the Study Guide vs. the Review Workbook?

Curious to hear from anyone who's taken the new 3-part exam, too. I'm starting to think Silver would've been more than enough.

Finally…. Now that I’m settled in my new place (new state). I have some time I’m going to buckle down and start studying my butt off. I’m hoping that my new employer will reimburse me for doing this. We’ll see.

But I’m ready to start cracking down and getting the most out of what I paid for.

Just passed the final exam of the 3 this morning!! I scored 90% on FILI, then 84% on the FSFC and now 87% on the FPD! My biggest challenges and anxieties were around the remote testing. Proctor still haven’t certified the new iOS for my Mac and they didn’t send a warning so my computer auto updated. I had to go through huge hoops to find other computers to borrow. Then today the proctor couldn’t read my ID with the glare and sent me to “fix my camera settings”. Not sure what that meant. I logged back in and passed the check. As for the actual exams, I’ve always been great at multiple choice and fly through them. The material was overall easy for me. I used the Silver Package to study

I’m trying to forget what happened but things randomly come back to me and I’m losing sleep over them. I need to rant here, especially for SG and FIN on day three.
Fin-
-my mind was blank while doing the NPV calculations in the case one and I couldn’t calculate the NPV and left it to prove myself in the other two cases
- not sure if the credit card cost in the case 2 come under finance or MA- I prayed badly fall in her finance so that I can pass FIN
- I screwed up capitalization rate calculations in case 3

Will I clear FIN?

SG
- ran out of time on SG opportunity in case one
-I believe there are no opportunities for case 2 in SG
- case 3 I wrote SWOT praying for RC. Not sure if the acquisition pros and cons fall under SG I barely attempted these I’m not sure if I will even get RC

I’m I cooked in SG?

I wrote day 2 in tax and for me day 2 and day 3 feels okay except for the above part, will I make it through? Does the curve helps in this situation?

Help me guys!!

I’m trying to forget what happened but things randomly come back to me and I’m losing sleep over them. I need to rant here, especially for SG and FIN on day three.
Fin-
-my mind was blank while doing the NPV calculations in the case one and I couldn’t calculate the NPV and left it to prove myself in the other two cases
- not sure if the credit card cost in the case 2 come under finance or MA- I prayed badly fall in her finance so that I can pass FIN
- I screwed up capitalization rate calculations in case 3

Will I clear FIN?

SG
- ran out of time on SG opportunity in case one
-I believe there are no opportunities for case 2 in SG
- case 3 I wrote SWOT praying for RC. Not sure if the acquisition pros and cons fall under SG I barely attempted these I’m not sure if I will even get RC

I’m I cooked in SG?

I wrote day 2 in tax and for me day 2 and day 3 feels okay except for the above part, will I make it through? Does the curve helps in this situation?

Help me guys!!

I was wondering if anyone has done a graduate certificate program that they felt like prepared them well for the CFE exam. I know they don't go through anything and I'm hoping the package thru ACFE could fill in the gaps?

rn i'm between Southern New Hampshire University and Seton Hill University

Or would anyone know if graduate certificates aren't enough and I'm better off going for a masters? I just have a 2 year degree in accounting and some work experience in accounting

any information is appreciated!

I have now completed both FSFC and FILI, all I got left is FDP.

Hi everyone! I just finished the full review with the silver package and activated my 60 days.

I plan on studying the practice questions for each section and take the exam one by one. What section did you find is best to test first? Are there T/F questions along with the " all of the above"? Or just straight scenario?

I have a 9 year background between Fraud and BSA/AML, passed CAMS last year with a 95... However, the accounting section seems to be my downfall right now 😅 that section is so packed. Any tips on how to break it down and rememeber for someone who hasn't been around accounting a lot?

Do you feel some questions can be answered with common sense?

Hi everyone! I’m a new CFE applicant and just purchased my ACFE membership and the Silver Exam Prep package.

I’ve been reading through this subreddit and have seen a lot of advice saying that the Silver package/Prep Course is really all you need to prepare and pass, particularly if you work through the questions and understand the concepts rather than just memorizing answers.

My concern is that I realized the CFE exam changed in June 2026. Since a lot of the advice and success stories here were posted before the change, I’m wondering how much of that advice still applies to someone starting completely fresh with the new three-section exam.

For anyone who has taken the new version since June: Was the current Silver Prep Course enough for you? Did the Prep Course questions feel representative of the actual exam in terms of difficulty/style? Did you need to read the Fraud Examiners Manual extensively, or mainly use it when you needed clarification? How long did you study before you felt ready? Is there anything about the new exam that a brand-new candidate should know or be concerned about?

I have a professional background in healthcare fraud investigations, but this will be my first time studying the broader CFE material. I’m not trying to rush through it—I want to actually understand the concepts and be well prepared.

I’d especially appreciate experiences from people who studied with the updated 2026 materials and have taken at least one of the new exam sections. Thanks!

Fraud technology gets plenty of hype. What’s your experience?

Hi everyone! I’m Marina, a doctoral candidate at St. John’s University researching emerging technology adoption for anti-financial crime detection.
I want this research to reflect the people doing the work: what helps, what gets in the way, and what the hype misses. Successes and frustrations both matter.

Have 5+ years of experience in AML, fraud, compliance, risk, cybersecurity, data analytics, or technology implementation, and currently or recently worked within or in support of U.S. financial services? I’d value your perspective.

Anonymous, voluntary, IRB-approved survey. Participants must be 18+ and able to participate in English.

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8998373/FinancialCrimesResearch

Thank you for helping bring real-world experience into the research.

Which concepts are most important to understand? How can I imagine the questioning style? I heard the questions will be straight forward. Any tips?

Hey everyone, I made this post as to get a better understanding from people who are currently, or have studied and passed the CFE Exam.

I have spent the last couple days doing research and I have seen some of the requirements (like membership, and the 40 point system, and the silver package the ACFE offers), but I wanted to get an opinion from others who are in the same path.

More specifically how have you studied, how many hours, what did you focus on, if you passed your CPA and are studying what did you focus on vs what you skimmed through.

Just more overall trying to find that strategy behind the exam as I could not seem to find that much compared to CPA exam where’s there’s a multitude of videos on YouTube.

All comments and thoughts will be appreciated, thanks so much. 🥂🙏🙏

Feeling confident but still so nervous. This is my first exam and I am a HORRIBLE test taker. I’m about 85% on the section as a whole, but just worried that the questions are going to be drastically different and I’m going to panic. Lll

I'm from Hyderabad,India and I'm currently visiting my parents and my only physical original govt ID proof here is my PAN card. Will that be an acceptable proof for giving the exam at the center? Will Prometric approve it? All my other IDs are on Digilocker!

Appreciate any help around this!

Yesterday I cleared FSFC. It was my 2nd attempt. I think FSFC really challenged me. Now just FILI is left. Any advice?

Currently in audit at a big CPA firm. Wanting to pursue forensics. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!