Mapped: U.S. Financial Crime Activity by State
Suspicious activity has been rising in the U.S., but is it spread evenly throughout all 50 states? Certainly not.
This visualization, created in partnership with Inigo Insurance, maps the number of Suspicious Activity Reports per 10,000 people, using data from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
Suspicious Activity Reports
Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) are documents that financial institutions and other organizations file to alert law enforcement about potential legal violations, including money laundering, terrorist financing, and other criminal activity.
SARs help authorities maintain an up-to-date picture of possible financial crime and fraud across all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico. Notably, the incidence rate of these reports varies widely across the country.
States with the Highest SARs
The states with the highest SAR counts are geographically diverse. The top five are Delaware (2,352 per 10,000 people), South Dakota (1,967), Utah (1,101), Ohio (542), and North Carolina (464).
| State | Reports per 10k
(Suspicious Activity Reports) |
|---|---|
| Delaware | 2352 |
| South Dakota | 1967 |
| Utah | 1101 |
| Ohio | 542 |
| North Carolina | 464 |
| Virginia | 428 |
| North Dakota | 416 |
| New York | 290 |
| Rhode Island | 265 |
| New Jersey | 245 |
| Nevada | 243 |
| District of Columbia | 243 |
| Hawaii | 227 |
| California | 213 |
| Illinois | 192 |
| Florida | 183 |
| Texas | 172 |
| Puerto Rico | 171 |
| Alaska | 167 |
| Georgia | 162 |
| Nebraska | 160 |
| Oklahoma | 157 |
| Maryland | 155 |
| Alabama | 144 |
| Washington | 143 |
| West Virginia | 142 |
| Massachusetts | 139 |
| Connecticut | 138 |
| Mississippi | 133 |
| Tennessee | 126 |
| New Hampshire | 125 |
| Colorado | 123 |
| Pennsylvania | 117 |
| Indiana | 117 |
| Arizona | 113 |
| South Carolina | 108 |
| Oregon | 106 |
| Minnesota | 105 |
| Maine | 105 |
| Louisiana | 104 |
| Wisconsin | 104 |
| Kansas | 103 |
| New Mexico | 100 |
| Michigan | 100 |
| Arkansas | 91 |
| Montana | 91 |
| Kentucky | 89 |
| Missouri | 89 |
| Iowa | 77 |
| Wyoming | 74 |
| Vermont | 68 |
| Idaho | 66 |
So why is Delaware’s suspicious activity count so much higher than other states? With more than 2 million business entities—outnumbering its residents—Delaware is a hot spot for financial crime. In fact, about two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware due to its flexible, business-friendly laws.
States with the Lowest SARs
Conversely, there are lots of states with nearly non-existent SAR rates. Idaho (66), Vermont (68), Wyoming (74), Iowa (77), Missouri (89), Kentucky (89), Montana (91), and Arkansas (91)—states that have strong rural influences and relatively low populations—all have SARs per 10,000 people below 100.
Uncover the Hidden Risks with Inigo
As a business, safeguarding against cybercrime and other suspicious activity is more critical than ever—and it all begins with awareness. Explore Inigo’s data-driven insights to uncover the hidden risks of financial crime.
Visit Inigo for a data-driven view of risk.
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