Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

What Association of Certified Fraud Examiners does

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), founded in 1988 by Dr. Joseph T. Wells, CFE, CPA, and headquartered at 716 West Ave, Austin, Texas, is a private professional membership organization that operates as the world's largest anti-fraud body, with over 95,000 members across 180+ countries organized into 200+ local chapters and content delivered on six continents. Its core product is the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential — a computer-based proctored exam with webcam access, screen recording, keystroke biometrics, and ID verification — supported by self-study and instructor-led training, certificate programs, an online community forum, career resources, and a network of authorized trainers. Beyond the credential, ACFE monetizes a diversified portfolio: a flagship 37th annual Global Fraud Conference and four regional conferences (Europe, Asia-Pacific, Canada, Middle East), bimonthly Fraud Magazine, a monthly Fraud Talk podcast, the bimonthly Fraud Examiner newsletter reaching 90,000+ subscribers, books and manuals, sponsored webinars, advertising, and corporate alliance programs with named enterprise partners including Saudi Aramco, Airbus, and Raiffeisen Bank International.

The business model is a hybrid professional-association stack: recurring annual membership dues, one-time course and exam fees, conference registration revenue, advertising and sponsorship, and recurring recertification fees tied to mandatory CPE cycles. Pricing varies meaningfully by member status (approximately 20% discount for members) and includes group discounts for organizations training five or more employees, with published self-study course pricing ranging from $89.60 to $343. The organization also derives strategic value from proprietary longitudinal research — most notably the 14th edition Occupational Fraud: A Report to the Nations covering 2,402 cases across 143 countries — which it co-develops with partners such as SAS (Anti-Fraud Technology Benchmarking Report), Grant Thornton (Anti-Fraud Blueprint), and COSO (Fraud Risk Management Guide). Marketing is content- and community-led, anchored by Fraud Magazine, the ACFE Insights Blog, social channels, podcasts, regional and global events, and the annual International Fraud Awareness Week (25th edition in 2025). Leadership transitioned in 2023, with John Gill, J.D., CFE as President and John Warren, J.D., CFE as Chief Executive Officer.

Name

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Legal name

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Inc.

Website

https://acfe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) is the world's largest anti-fraud professional membership organization, providing the Certified Fraud Examiner credential, training, research, and a global community of over 95,000 anti-fraud professionals across 180+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification and Anti-Fraud Training

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Crime & Fraud Prevention (Forensics, Investigations) (EDABAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accounting & Finance Certification Prep (CPA, CMA, CFA, FRM) (EDANAIAD), Accounting, Audit & Tax (CPA/CA/ACCA CPE) (EDAAALAA), Anti-Bribery & Anti-Corruption (ABAC) (EDABADAA), Professional Certification & Training Content Publishing (Exam Prep, CE/CPD) (MPAJACAL), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Fraud examination training
• Professional certification services
• Anti-fraud education
• Continuing professional education
• Fraud risk management

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to professional resources, local chapters, community forums, member pricing on products and events, and CPE opportunities. Supports the organization's mission to reduce business fraud worldwide.
2. Training and Education: Revenue from self-study CPE courses (online and print formats), instructor-led seminars, virtual seminars, and certificate programs. Course prices range from $89.60 to $343 depending on membership status and course length.
3. Conference and Event Registration: Fees from annual Global Fraud Conference, regional conferences (Europe, Asia-Pacific, Canada, Middle East), virtual events, webinars, and specialized summits. In-person events include networking sessions, educational sessions, and course materials.
4. CFE Credential Fees: Exam application fees and certification maintenance (recertification) fees for maintaining CFE credential status. Credential represents anti-fraud experience, knowledge and professionalism recognized by the public.
5. Advertising and Sponsorship: Revenue from advertising in The Fraud Examiner newsletter (90,000+ subscribers), website advertising on FraudMagazine.com, sponsored webinars, sponsored reports, and conference exhibition booths and sponsorships. Targets anti-fraud professionals, auditors, compliance and accounting professionals.
6. Publications and Products: Sales of books, manuals, and merchandise related to fraud examination and anti-fraud practices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The ACFE is a professional membership association that issues the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential and sells anti-fraud training, continuing professional education (CPE) courses, and an annual portfolio of in-person and virtual conferences to fraud examiners, auditors, compliance officers, and law enforcement professionals worldwide. It also publishes Fraud Magazine, the monthly Fraud Talk podcast, and proprietary research such as the biennial Report to the Nations, and operates a directory, job board, and online community for its 95,000+ members in 180+ countries.

Product overview

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) is the world's largest anti-fraud organization offering a platform-plus-ecosystem model built around the CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) credential as its core professional certification. The portfolio includes training and exam preparation products (self-study CPE courses, virtual/in-person events, exam prep packages), research publications (Report to the Nations, Anti-Fraud Technology Benchmarking Report, Compensation Guide, Fraud Risk Management Guide), knowledge resources (Fraud Magazine, Fraud Talk Podcast, Books & Manuals), conferences (Annual Global Fraud Conference, regional conferences in Europe/Asia-Pacific/Canada/Middle East, specialized summits for Government and Women), career services (Job Board, Mentoring Program, Find a CFE directory), and membership programs (Corporate Alliance, Law Enforcement partnerships, Higher Education partnerships). The CFE credential is the central anchor, with all other products and services supporting anti-fraud professionals throughout their careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CFE Credential (Certified Fraud Examiner) Globally recognized professional certification for fraud examiners requiring passage of the CFE Exam plus eligibility (professional experience and character references). Holders must maintain certification through continuing professional education (CPE) and recertification.
• CFE Exam Preparation

Quantifiable outcome

• Organizations with anti-fraud controls experience lower fraud losses and quicker detection times
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and regional.

• SAScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Collaborated on the 2026 Anti-Fraud Technology Benchmarking Report revealing that fraudsters are outpacing organizations in exploiting generative AI. Study found only 7% of organizations feel prepared to detect AI-enabled fraud and 84% cite budgetary restrictions as leading barrier.
• Grant Thornton Advisors LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026Jointly released the Anti-Fraud Blueprint with ACFE, a guidance document to help organizations assess and strengthen fraud risk management programs. The blueprint provides practical recommendations around fraud risk governance, assessment, control activities, investigation, and monitoring, incorporating Grant Thornton's Enterprise Anti-Fraud Maturity Assessment Model.
• Thomson ReutersmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2025Joint report on synthetic business identities as top risk in B2B relationships, with half of organizations planning to use more AI in due diligence.
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2025Global bodies signed deal to work together combatting business fraud through a three-year MOU focused on research and learning in anti-fraud education.
• UAE IAA and ISACAregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2024Partnership for The First Audit, Anti-Fraud & I.T. Congress under the patronage of UAE Ministry of Economy, gathering speakers to guide anti-fraud professionals into new era of audit, fraud prevention and information technology.
• Anti-Fraud Collaboration (AFC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2024ACFE joined the Anti-Fraud Collaboration in a strategic move to enhance fraud prevention and detection efforts across industries.
• Mission OmegaregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 August 2023Launched Financial Services Fraud Training Program, a self-paced online training program tailored to banking, financial services institutions and partners.
• COSOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2023Collaborated on the Fraud Risk Management Guide Second Edition published by ACFE and COSO, providing a blueprint for helping organizations establish overall fraud risk management programs.
• The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2023Education partnership announced to elevate competency for fraud investigators and auditors through joint initiatives and resources.
• Grant ThorntoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2022Released 'Managing Fraud Risks in an Evolving ESG Environment' guide to help organizations investing in ESG initiatives avoid fraud, released at 33rd Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference.
• Saudi AramcomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2016Corporate Alliance agreement allowing selected Saudi Aramco employees to benefit through full ACFE membership, exclusive on-site training, discounted conferences, self-study courses, free webinars and access to ACFE's fraud examiner practitioner network.
• K & N Kenanga Holdings BerhadregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2015First Southeast Asian organisation to partner with ACFE, providing anti-fraud training and certification for the investment bank's employees.
• Financial Audit Department (FAD) DubairegionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2015Partnership to provide expert fraud training and certification for FAD employees of the Dubai Government.
• AirbusmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2013Partnership to provide ethics and compliance training and certification among Airbus employees through ACFE's training programs.
• Raiffeisen Bank InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2013Partnership to increase anti-fraud knowledge and certification among employees of the European banking group.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA): The IIA is the global professional association for internal auditors, offering the CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) credential, CPE, and a similar membership-driven training model. It is the closest analog to ACFE in terms of professional body structure, certification-anchored value proposition, and overlapping content on fraud investigation.
• ISACA: ISACA is a global professional association offering CISA, CISM, CRISC, and CGEIT credentials with chapters, conferences, CPE, and research publications. It directly overlaps ACFE in IT audit and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) training, and increasingly competes for the same corporate compliance budget.
• American Institute of CPAs (AICPA): AICPA is the world's largest member association representing the accounting profession, offering the CPA credential plus the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) credential that competes directly with the CFE in fraud examination. It shares the CPE-driven membership model and serves the same audit/compliance buyer.
• IMA (Institute of Management Accountants): IMA is a global professional association for management accountants offering the CMA (Certified Management Accountant) credential, with similar CPE programs, member benefits, chapters, and conferences. It overlaps ACFE in serving accounting and finance professionals focused on internal controls and fraud prevention.
• GARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals): GARP is a not-for-profit membership organization for risk professionals offering the FRM (Financial Risk Manager) credential, plus research, events, and CPE. It competes for the same enterprise risk and compliance training budget and follows a near-identical certification-anchored business model.
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants): ACCA is a global professional accountancy body offering the ACCA qualification across 180+ markets, with chapters, events, and continuous professional development. ACFE has an active MOU with ACCA on anti-fraud education, signaling direct overlap in serving the chartered accountant audience for fraud training.
• PRMIA (Professional Risk Managers' International Association): PRMIA is a non-profit professional association offering the PRM (Professional Risk Manager) designation, with chapters, certifications, and continuous learning. It is a smaller direct peer competing for the same enterprise risk and financial crime training wallet.

Broad incumbents

• SANS Institute: SANS Institute is a larger, established cybersecurity training and certification provider (GIAC credentials) that increasingly overlaps with ACFE in cyber fraud and digital forensics training. It operates a for-profit model with broader scope but competes for the same corporate fraud awareness training budget.
• (ISC)²: (ISC)² is the world's largest cybersecurity professional body offering CISSP and other credentials with chapters, CPE, and member training. It encroaches on ACFE's territory as cybersecurity and fraud converge, and serves overlapping corporate compliance buyers.

Emerging players

• Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI): CISI is a UK-headquartered professional body offering securities, investment, and financial crime credentials. It overlaps with ACFE on financial crime and AML/fraud prevention content, serving primarily UK and Commonwealth markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theacfe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/TheACFE
• Facebookfacebook.com/AssociationofCertifiedFraudExaminers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acfe
• Instagraminstagram.com/theacfe

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association of Certified Fraud Examiners