Can You Buy a Replacement GARP Certificate That Looks Authentic?

Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) is a not-for-profit organization and a membership association for risk managers. Its services include setting standards, training, education, industry networking, and promoting risk management practices. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, with additional offices in London, Washington, D.C., Beijing, and Hong Kong. GARP offers several foundational and certificate programs, the best known of which is the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certification.

GARP also runs initiatives such as the GARP Risk Institute (GRI) Archived 2021-07-09 at the Wayback Machine and GARP Benchmarking Initiative (GBI) Archived 2021-07-09 at the Wayback Machine for research and thought leadership efforts within the risk purview.

The Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) offers prestigious certifications like the FRM (Financial Risk Manager) and ERP (Energy Risk Professional)—valuable credentials for finance and risk management careers. But what if you lose your certificate or need a high-quality replacement quickly? Some consider buying a realistic-looking fake GARP certificate, but is it worth the risk?

Why Do People Buy Fake GARP Certificates?

1. Lost or Damaged Original Certificates

• Physical certificates can be lost in moves, damaged, or fade over time.

• Official GARP replacements take 4-6 weeks for processing.

2. Urgent Job or Promotion Requirements

• Some employers demand immediate proof of certification.

• A high-quality fake might seem like a fast solution.

3. Never Actually Passed the Exam (Fraudulent Use)

• A small number of buyers attempt to deceive employers with counterfeit FRM/ERP certificates.

How to Spot a “Realistic” Fake GARP Certificate

Some sellers claim to offer undetectable replicas with:
✔️ Correct GARP logo & signatures
✔️ Professional holograms/foil stamps
✔️ Accurate FRM/ERP formatting

But even the best fakes fail because:
❌ No record in GARP’s certification database
❌ Mismatched serial numbers
❌ Failed employer verification checks