Fraud Investigators: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of fraud investigators about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for fraud investigators to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of fraud investigators expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for fraud investigators.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Fraud Investigators?
Do fraud investigators need a degree? What kind of experience do fraud investigators typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for fraud investigators to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Fraud Investigators
Jobs Postings for Fraud Investigators By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 6,928 (46%)
- No Education Listed: 2,679 (18%)
- Master's degree: 2,668 (18%)
- High School or GED: 1,647 (11%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,100 (7%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of fraud investigators. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 46% of positions. In 18% of job listings no education level was listed and in 18% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Fraud Investigators
Jobs Postings for Fraud Investigators By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,247 (16%)
- 2-3 Years: 3,429 (43%)
- 4-6 Years: 2,354 (29%)
- 7-9 Years: 690 (9%)
- 10+ Years: 324 (4%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for fraud investigators. In 43% of job postings for Fraud Investigators, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 29% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 16% of job postings for fraud investigators.
What Kind of Degree Do Fraud Investigators Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for fraud investigators, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 19 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective fraud investigators, and in 2023 a total of 223,162 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective fraud investigators.
Top Degree Programs for Fraud Investigators
Top 5 Degree Programs for Fraud Investigators (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Mathematics, General. | 26,754 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Mathematics, General. | 26,754 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Financial Mathematics. | 5,552 |
| Financial Planning and Services. | 5,054 |
| Applied Mathematics, General. | 4,571 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,492 |
| Health Services Administration. | 3,016 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | 1,034 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 795 |
| Investments and Securities. | 374 |
| Risk Management. | 177 |
| International Finance. | 138 |
| Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management. | 61 |
| Religious Institution Administration and Management. | 56 |
| Public Finance. | 25 |
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Degree Options for Fraud Investigators
Help organizations analyze financial statements and accounts to help prevent fraud, maintain data integrity, assess operational risk, and mitigate or remediate deficiencies as an accounting technician, assistant or bookkeeper.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
What Skills Do Fraud Investigators Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by fraud investigators to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for fraud investigators, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Fraud Investigators
Based on 11,859 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Fraud Investigators
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Anti Money Laundering | 3,193 | 27% |
| Auditing | 2,391 | 20% |
| Bank Secrecy Act | 2,347 | 20% |
| Financial Services | 2,299 | 19% |
| Fraud Investigation | 2,260 | 19% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Fraud Investigators
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 5,378 | 45% |
| Management | 4,582 | 39% |
| Research | 4,458 | 38% |
| Investigation | 4,170 | 35% |
| Operations | 3,228 | 27% |
Based on 11,859 job postings related to fraud investigators, anti money laundering was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 27% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for auditing, bank secrecy act, financial services, fraud investigation and finance were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for fraud investigators, followed by management, research, investigation, operations and microsoft excel.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Anti Money Laundering | 3,193 | 27% |
| Auditing | 2,391 | 20% |
| Bank Secrecy Act | 2,347 | 20% |
| Financial Services | 2,299 | 19% |
| Fraud Investigation | 2,260 | 19% |
| Finance | 2,129 | 18% |
| Data Analysis | 2,018 | 17% |
| Risk Management | 1,969 | 17% |
| Law Enforcement | 1,753 | 15% |
| Accounting | 1,727 | 15% |
| Fraud Prevention | 1,725 | 15% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 1,688 | 14% |
| Statistics | 1,613 | 14% |
| SQL (Programming Language) | 1,573 | 13% |
| Economics | 1,349 | 11% |
| Fraud Detection | 1,262 | 11% |
| Office Of Foreign Assets Controls | 1,205 | 10% |
| Suspicious Activity Report | 1,196 | 10% |
| Due Diligence | 1,149 | 10% |
| Project Management | 1,079 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 5,378 | 45% |
| Management | 4,582 | 39% |
| Research | 4,458 | 38% |
| Investigation | 4,170 | 35% |
| Operations | 3,228 | 27% |
| Microsoft Excel | 2,888 | 24% |
| Detail Oriented | 2,716 | 23% |
| Problem Solving | 2,685 | 23% |
| Writing | 2,651 | 22% |
| Leadership | 2,219 | 19% |
| Customer Service | 2,114 | 18% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,920 | 16% |
| Analytical Skills | 1,767 | 15% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 1,565 | 13% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,563 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,501 | 13% |
| Presentations | 1,470 | 12% |
| Mathematics | 1,453 | 12% |
| Multitasking | 1,331 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 1,274 | 11% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about fraud investigators? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for fraud investigators.
What do fraud investigators do?
How much do fraud investigators make?
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