News release: “The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today released its latest and 12th edition of The SAR Activity Review – By the Numbers. The report shows a continued overall rise in Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) filings including an increase in depository institution filings related to all seven areas of suspected fraud listed on the SAR form. In 2008, the total volume of all SARs filed revealed a 3 percent increase as compared to a 16 percent increase the prior year. SARs filed by depository institutions increased by 12.85 percent as compared to 2007. By the Numbers presents a compilation of numerical data gathered from SARs filed in 2008, plus graphical interpretations, by industry and by region, and comparisons to prior years. The report reveals that of the 20 different violation types tracked, seven of the categories relate specifically to fraud and all seven showed an increase in SAR filings during the year.”