Course Description

This course examines a real-world insurance fraud scheme uncovered in Nepal, in which helicopter rescue operators and Sherpa guides fabricated or exaggerated climbers' medical emergencies on Mount Everest to generate fraudulent evacuation claims — ultimately totaling an estimated $20 million in losses to travel insurers. Participants will identify the industry conditions that created the opportunity for fraud, trace how the scheme operated across multiple related companies, and apply the Fraud Triangle to understand the pressures, opportunities, and rationalizations behind the misconduct. For CPAs in assurance, advisory, or ethics roles, this case offers a practical look at how weak internal controls and conflicted business relationships enable large-scale fraud, and what reforms can deter similar schemes.

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify the characteristics of the Mount Everest climbing industry that made it a target for large-scale helicopter evacuation fraud
  2. Explain how the Mount Everest helicopter evacuation fraud scheme was carried out, including the roles played by Sherpas, tour companies, and helicopter operators
  3. Apply the Fraud Triangle to the Mount Everest case to recognize the pressures, opportunities, and rationalizations that drove the scheme, and identify internal controls that can deter similar fraud

Instructors

Garth Sheriff, CPA, CA, CPA (Illinois), CIA, CGMA, MAcc, is the founder of Sheriff Consulting. Sheriff Consulting provides continuing professional education (CPD) 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: The Mount Everest Fraud

Estimated Total CPD: 1.5

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: May 22, 2026

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

Assessment Requirements:

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

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

Nano Learning (0.2 CPD): 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 Self Study

    2. Course Overview

    3. Glossary of Key Terms

    1. A Dangerous Game

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Review Question 1

    1. The Scheme in Action

    2. Review Question 2

    1. The Fraud Triangle and the Path to Reform

    2. Review Question 3

    1. Professional Ethics: The Mount Everest Fraud

    2. Course Evaluation

About this course

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

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