Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR)

Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) are documents that financial institutions, like banks, file with government authorities when they notice unusual or potentially illegal activities involving money. These reports help authorities detect, prevent, and investigate financial crimes such as money laundering or fraud. For example, if a customer makes large cash withdrawals that seem out of the ordinary, the bank may file a SAR. While filing a SAR does not imply guilt, it serves as a warning signal to law enforcement agencies to take a closer look at the activity in question.