Crime

Mapped: U.S. Financial Crime Activity by State

Published

2 weeks ago

July 4, 2025

Julia Wendling

Article & Editing

Alan Kennedy

Graphics & Design

Athul Alexander

Map showing the number of Suspicious Activity Reports per 10,000 people by state in the U.S., using data from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

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.