# Detecting and Preventing Federal Grant Fraud Course (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/detecting-and-preventing-federal-grant-fraud-course-self-paced>

## Overview

This course builds a practical toolkit for preventing and detecting fraud in federal grants. Participants examine fraud risks, test internal controls, and practice detection techniques using case-based exercises that mirror real oversight situations.

By the end, participants will be able to conduct a fraud-focused risk assessment, design a prevention-oriented monitoring process with action items, evaluate internal controls for vulnerabilities, and analyze cases to determine how fraud could have been prevented or detected earlier.

Designed for program, grants, and audit/monitoring staff who need actionable approaches to reduce fraud risk across awards and subawards.

## What you'll learn

- Conduct fraud-focused risk assessments in the context of federal grants.
- Design monitoring processes that emphasize prevention and include actionable steps.
- Evaluate internal controls to identify gaps and vulnerabilities.
- Apply fraud detection techniques through case-based exercises.
- Analyze real-world scenarios to identify how fraud could have been prevented or detected.
- Build a practical toolkit for reducing fraud risk across awards and subawards.

## Prerequisites

Students should have prior experience working with federal grants or assistance programs, applying internal control principles, and monitoring compliance, as well as familiarity with identifying risk indicators and distinguishing fraud from waste or abuse.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: Federal Financial Assistance—Fraud Risks and Context

- Recognize fraud risk factors across recipients and subrecipients.
- Separate waste/abuse from fraudulent acts and red flags.
- Frame oversight priorities using risk indicators.

#### Module 2: Importance of Internal Controls for Fraud Prevention

- Map controls to common fraud schemes and vulnerabilities.
- Strengthen segregation of duties and system safeguards.
- Link monitoring results to control improvements.

#### Module 3: Detecting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

- Identify transactional anomalies and documentation gaps.
- Use data, sampling, and site reviews to detect issues.
- Escalate concerns and coordinate with oversight bodies.

#### Module 4: Case Studies, Testing, and Action Plans

- Evaluate internal controls for vulnerabilities in scenarios.
- Draft prevention/detection action items with owners and timelines.
- Capture lessons learned to reduce future risk.

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $1050