About the CGFS certification
This certification is awarded by the Global Association of Certified KYC Specialists (Global AKS), a globally recognized association acknowledged in over 180 countries.
Why professionals choose Global AKS
Global recognition across 180+ countries by financial institutions, fintechs and compliance teams, on a practice-based curriculum designed from real workflows used in leading global banks.
Who this course is for
- Fraud analysts and investigators — the red flags by type (behavioural, transactional, documentary and organisational) and how the main schemes, from mortgage fraud to account takeover, actually work.
- Conduct and mis-selling compliance — how PPI, interest-rate swaps, annuities and pension transfers were mis-sold, the red flags in sales data and complaints, and the suitability and disclosure rules involved.
- Mortgage and lending fraud teams — how applications are falsified, from inflated income and valuations to straw buyers, and how predatory lending and securitisation fraud are recognised.
- Market abuse and securities compliance — pump-and-dump schemes, insider trading, spoofing and layering, and the red flags in trading patterns.
- Internal auditors — the control weaknesses and documentary red flags behind fraud, and how financial statements are manipulated, from early revenue recognition to off-balance-sheet entities.
- New to fraud — no prior training is assumed; each scheme is explained from how the product works before its red flags and controls.
Requirements No prerequisites A desktop, laptop or mobile device with an internet connection
The CGFS certificate
Recognition and awards
Accreditation
Gold-Tier Accreditation by ONRIGA
A verifiable quality signal for employers, against recognised benchmarks for professional education.
Accreditation ID: ONR-EC-GLD-2013-788dc6
Verify Global AKS on ONRIGA →Recognition
Recognised by the American CBM Association
Enhancing employer confidence and credibility.
Award
Best KYC Certification Awards
Featured in industry coverage of the best KYC certifications.
Read the ComplyFocus article →Award
Gold Standard in KYC Award
Recognising high-quality KYC education and professional standards.
Listing
Professional Designation Listed in FINRA's Database
Global AKS's G-CFES credential is also listed in FINRA's public, searchable Professional Designations Database. FINRA is the US securities and broker-dealer regulator.
Open FINRA Designations Database →What the certification covers, and what the final assessment draws on: the 6 modules and 17 chapters of the CGFS study e-booklet.
Module 1
Introduction to Financial Fraud
3 chapters
- 1.1Definition and Scope of Financial Fraud
- 1.2Fraud Trends and Statistics
- 1.3Legal Framework
Module 2
Fundamentals of Financial Fraud Analysis
2 chapters
- 2.1Principles of Financial Fraud Detection
- 2.2Fraud Detection Tools and Technologies
Module 3
Financial Fraud Detection Techniques
2 chapters
- 3.1Red Flags of Financial Fraud
- 3.2Financial Statement Fraud
Module 4
Fraudulent Financial Mis-Selling
5 chapters
- 4.1General Characteristics of Financial Mis-Selling
- 4.2Predatory Lending
- 4.3Intermediate-Level: Mechanisms and Red Flags
- 4.4Interest Rate Derivatives Mis-Selling
- 4.5Synthetic Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) Mis-Selling
Module 5
Financial Instruments and Fraud Techniques
2 chapters
- 5.1Common Financial Instruments Used in Fraud: Stocks and Securities
- 5.2Fraud Techniques Using Financial Instruments
Module 6
Cyber Financial Fraud
3 chapters
- 6.1Introduction to Cyber Financial Fraud
- 6.2Introduction to Cyber Fraud Detection Tools
- 6.3Case Studies in Cyber Financial Fraud
What this course contains, and what the assessment asks of you.
Step 1
Study e-booklet
The CGFS study e-booklet: 6 modules, 17 chapters. There are no separate lessons — the e-booklet is the course, and its contents are on the Syllabus tab.
- FormatPDF e-booklet
- Modules6
- Chapters17
- AccessLifetime
- DownloadOn enrolment
Step 2
Mock exam
Not graded and issues no certificate — it shows you where you stand, on a separate paper from the final.
- Questions100
- Time limit100 minutes
- Attempts2
- GradedNo
Step 3
Final assessment
Graded. Passing issues the certificate and its credential ID straight away.
- Questions100
- Time limit100 minutes
- Pass mark85%
- Attempts2
- Skipped question−1
How the assessment works
- The mock and the final are separate papers. The mock is not graded, and sitting it never uses up a final attempt.
- The final is 100 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes, sat online whenever you are ready.
- The clock is kept by the server, not your browser: closing the tab does not stop it.
- Scoring: +1 for a correct answer, 0 for a wrong one, and −1 for a question left unanswered.
- Before your first attempt you confirm the name that will print on the certificate.
- You have 2 attempts, and can buy another for US$19 if you need it.
- Passing issues the certificate immediately, with a credential ID anyone can verify.
The final assessment is what earns the credential. It is multiple choice, taken entirely online, and you may sit it whenever you are ready — there is no waiting period after enrolling and no expiry on the attempts.
- Format
- Multiple choice · 100% online
- Passing score
- 85%
- Correct answer
- +1
- Incorrect answer
- 0
- Skipped question
- −1
- Attempts included
- 2 final · 2 mock
- Further attempts
- US$19 each
- When you may sit it
- Any time · no expiry
The mock exam
2 mock attempts are included. The mock is not graded and issues no certificate — it is there to show you where you stand. It is a separate paper from the final: sitting it, or running out of mock attempts, does not affect your final attempts in any way.
If you do not pass
2 final attempts are included. If you use them all, you can buy another for US$19 straight away — the option appears on your result screen, with no email and no waiting. Your access to the study material is unaffected.
On passing
The digital certificate is issued instantly, carrying a unique credential ID that any employer can check on the verification portal without an account.
Renewal
The certification is valid for 2 years. Renewal is required every 2 years, for a renewal fee of US$32. Curriculum updates are added regularly, based on input from compliance teams and investment banks.
Ready to sit it?
The final assessment is reachable from the Curriculum tab whenever you are enrolled — whether or not you have taken the mock.
See the curriculum →Deatailed summary
Reviewed 1 December 2025
Good study material and exam really helped to me get in depth knowledge of financial frauds
Reviewed 28 May 2025
Good study material and exam really helped to me get in depth knowledge of financial frauds .
Reviewed 11 May 2025