Course Description

This course examines common fraud schemes through personal case studies shared by two fraud professionals who have themselves been targeted by fraudsters. By analyzing real-world experiences including street scams, e-commerce fraud, elder care schemes, and affinity-based Ponzi schemes, participants will understand how the fraud risk triangle (rationalization, opportunity, and incentive) operates in practice and why even knowledgeable professionals can become victims.

Through candid discussion of psychological vulnerabilities, situational factors, and the evolving threat of AI-enabled fraud, this course equips CPAs with practical strategies to protect themselves, their clients, and vulnerable populations from fraud victimization. The course emphasizes that fraud prevention requires ongoing vigilance and specific protective protocols rather than relying solely on professional skepticism.

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify the elements of the fraud risk triangle (rationalization, opportunity, and incentive) and recognize how these elements manifest in common fraud schemes targeting individuals
  2. Analyze psychological and situational vulnerabilities that make individuals susceptible to fraud, including time pressure, trust relationships, and emotional states
  3. Apply protective strategies to prevent fraud victimization, including verification protocols, code word systems for vulnerable populations, and awareness of AI-enabled fraud threats

Instructors

Garth Sheriff, CPA, CA, CPA (Illinois), CIA, CGMA, MAcc, is the founder of Sheriff Consulting. Sheriff Consulting provides continuing professional education (CPE) courses in leadership, communication, and assurance. Garth has worked as an assurance professional and learning provider for over 20 years. Garth has also acted in various stage and film productions. He is a graduate in improvisation from The Second City and a member of ACTRA (the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists).

Josh Sager is the co-host of The Fraud Complex podcast and brings a unique perspective to fraud education through his background in storytelling and media production. Josh collaborates with Garth Sheriff to examine fraud cases through an accessible, narrative-driven approach that helps professionals understand the human elements of fraud schemes.

Course Information

Course Title: Professional Ethics: Personal Lessons in Fraud

Estimated Total CPE: 1.0

Field(s) of Study: Behavioral Ethics

Delivery Method: QAS Self-Study

Program Level: Basic

Prerequisites/Advanced Preparation: None

Enrollment Period/Expiration Date: One year from date of purchase

Date of Last Program Review/Update: 2/4/2026

Refund Policy/Complaint Resolution Policy: Our policies can be found in our FAQ

Assessment Requirements:

To earn CPE credit, participants must successfully complete the qualified assessment with the following minimum passing grades:

Self-Study (0.5 CPE or higher): 70% cumulative passing grade

Nano Learning (0.2 CPE): 100% passing grade

Participants who do not achieve the required passing grade may retake the assessment in accordance with sponsor policy.

Course curriculum

    1. Instructions for QAS Self Study

    2. Course Overview

    1. The Fraud Risk Triangle in Action

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Review Question 1

    1. Psychological Vulnerabilities in Digital Fraud

    2. Review Question 2

    1. Elder Fraud, Affinity Schemes, and Protection Strategies

    2. Review Question 3

    1. Final Assessment: Personal Lessons in Fraud

About this course

  • $75.00
  • 9 lessons
  • 1 hour of video content

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