Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) Advisory Key Terms
(Last updated May 2025.)
This webpage contains a list of Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) key terms found in FinCEN advisories and similar products. Not all FinCEN advisories contain key terms or SAR field number instructions; in those instances, see the applicable advisory for filing instructions
| FINANCIAL ACTIVITY | REQUESTED KEY ADVISORY TERMS | DATE | FinCEN Number and Other Associated Advisories |
|---|---|---|---|
| FinCEN Alert on Oil Smuggling Schemes on the U.S. Southwest Border Associated with Mexico-Based Cartels | FIN-2025-OILSMUGGLING | 05/01/2025 | FIN-2025-Alert002 |
| FinCEN Advisory on the Financing of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its Global Affiliates | ISIS-2025-A001 | 04/01/2025 | FIN-2025-A001 |
| FinCEN Alert on Bulk Cash Smuggling and Repatriation by Mexico-Based Transnational Criminal Organizations | FIN-2025-BULKCASH | 03/31/2025 | FIN-2025-Alert001 FIN-2024-NTC2 FIN-2024-A002 FIN-2023-Alert001 FIN-2019-A006 |
| FinCEN Alert on Fraud Schemes Abusing FinCEN’s Name, Insignia, and Authorities for Financial Gain | FIN-2024-FINCENSCAMS | 12/18/2024 | FIN-2024-Alert005 |
| FinCEN Alert on Fraud Schemes Involving Deepfake Media Targeting Financial Institutions | FIN-2024-DEEPFAKEFRAUD | 11/13/2024 | FIN-2024-Alert004 |
| FinCEN Alert to Financial Institutions to Counter Financing of Hizballah and its Terrorist Activities | IRANTF-2024-A001 | 10/23/2024 | FIN-2024-Alert003 FIN-2024-A001 |
| FinCEN, OFAC, and FBI Joint Notice on Timeshare Fraud Associated with Mexico-Based Transnational Criminal Organizations | FIN-2024-NTC2 | 07/16/2024 | FIN-2024-NTC2 |
| (Rescinded as of Jan. 29, 2025) Supplemental Alert: FinCEN Highlights Additional Red Flags Regarding Financing of Israeli Extremist Settler Violence Against Palestinians in the West Bank | FIN-2024-WBEXTREMISM | 07/11/2024 | Rescinded |
| Supplemental Advisory on the Procurement of Precursor Chemicals and Manufacturing Equipment Used for the Synthesis of Illicit Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids | FENTANYL FIN-2024-A002 | 06/20/2024 | FIN-2024-A002 |
| Advisory to Counter the Financing of Iran-Backed Terrorist Organizations | IRANTF-2024-A001 | 05/08/2024 | FIN-2024-A001 |
| FinCEN Notice on the Use of Counterfeit U.S. Passport Cards to Perpetrate Identity Theft and Fraud Schemes at Financial Institutions | FIN-2024-NTC1 | 04/15/2024 | FIN-2024-NTC1 |
| (Rescinded as of Jan. 29, 2025) FinCEN Issues Alert on Israeli Extremist Settler Violence Against Palestinians in the West Bank | FIN-2024-WBEXTREMISM | 02/01/2024 | Rescinded |
| FinCEN Alert on COVID-19 Employee Retention Credit Fraud | FIN-2023-ERC | 11/22/2023 | FIN-2023-Alert007 |
| FinCEN and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security Announce New Reporting Key Term and Highlight Red Flags Relating to Global Evasion of U.S. Export Controls | FIN-2023-GLOBALEXPORT | 11/6/2023 | FIN-2023-NTC2 |
| FinCEN Alert to Financial Institutions to Counter Financing to Hamas and its Terrorist Activities | FIN-2023-TFHAMAS | 10/20/2023 | |
| FinCEN Alert on Prevalent Virtual Currency Investment Scam Commonly Known as “Pig Butchering” | FIN-2023-PIGBUTCHERING | 09/08/2023 | |
| Notice on Payroll Tax Evasion and Workers’ Compensation Fraud in the Construction Sector | FIN-2023-NTC1 | 08/15/2023 | |
| Supplemental Alert: FinCEN and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security Urge Continued Vigilance for Potential Russian Export Control Evasion Attempts | FIN-2022-RUSSIABIS | 05/19/2023 | |
| FinCEN Alert on Nationwide Surge in Mail Theft-Related Check Fraud Schemes Targeting the U.S. Mail | FIN-2023-MAILTHEFT | 02/27/2023 | FIN-2023-Alert003 |
| FinCEN Alert on Potential U.S. Commercial Real Estate Investments by Sanctioned Russian Elites, Oligarchs, and Their Proxies | FIN-2023-RUSSIACRE | 01/25/2023 | FIN-2023-Alert002 |
| FinCEN Alert on Human Smuggling Along the Southwest Border of the United States | FIN-2023-HUMANSMUGGLING | 01/13/2023 | FIN-2023-Alert001 FIN-2020-A008 FIN-2014-A008 |
| Joint Alert on Increased Vigilance for Potential Russian and Belarusian Export Control Evasion Attempts | FIN-2022-RUSSIABIS | 06/28/2022 | FIN-2022-Alert003 |
| Advisory on Elder Financial Exploitation | EFE FIN-2022-A002 | 06/15/2022 | FIN-2022-A002 |
| Advisory on Kleptocracy and Foreign Public Corruption | CORRUPTION FIN-2022-A001 | 04/14/2022 | FIN-2022-A001 |
| Alert on Real Estate, Luxury, Goods, and High-Value Assets Involving Russian Elites, Oligarchs, and Family Members | FIN-2022-RUSSIALUXURY | 03/16/2022 | FIN-2022-Alert002 |
| Alert on Increased Vigilance for Potential Russian Sanctions Evasion Attempts | FIN-2022-RUSSIASANCTIONS | 03/7/2022 | FIN-2022-Alert001 |
| Notice on Environmental Crimes | FIN-2021-NTC4 | 11/18/2021 | FIN-2021-NTC4 |
| Advisories on Ransomware Activity | CYBER FIN-2021-A004 | 11/8/2021 | FIN-2021-A004 FIN-2020-A006 (updated and replaced on 11/8/21) |
| Notice on Child Sexual Exploitation Crimes | OCSE-FIN-2021-NTC3 | 09/16/2021 | FIN-2021-NTC3 |
| Notice on Trade in Antiquities and Art | FIN-2021-NTC2 | 03/9/2021 | FIN-2021-NTC2 |
| Advisory on COVID-19 Economic Impact Payment | FIN-2021-A002 | 02/24/2021 | FIN-2021-A002 |
| Consolidated COVID-19 Suspicious Activity Report Key Terms and Filing Instructions | See Notice Table 1 and 2 for Details | 02/24/2021 | FIN-2021-NTC1 |
| Advisory on Health Insurance and Health Care-Related Fraud | FIN-2021-A001 | 02/2/2021 | FIN-2021-A001 |
| Notice on COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Scams and Cyberattacks | FIN-2020-NTC4 | 12/28/2020 | FIN-2020-NTC4 |
| Advisory on FATF Jurisdictions with AML/CFT Deficiencies | OCTOBER 2020 FATF FIN-2020-A009 | 11/6/2020 | FIN-2020-A009 |
| Advisory on Human Trafficking and Related Activity | HUMAN TRAFFICKING FIN-2020-A008 | 10/15/2020 | FIN-2020-A008 |
| Advisory on COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud | COVID19 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FRAUD FIN-2020-A007 | 10/13/2020 | FIN-2020-A007 |
| Advisories on COVID-19 Cybercrime and Cyber-Enabled Crime | COVID19-CYBER FIN-2020-A005 | 07/30/2020 | FIN-2020-A005 |
| Advisory on FATF Jurisdictions with AML/CFT Deficiencies | JUNE 2020 FATF FIN-2020-A004 | 07/14/2020 | FIN-2020-A004 |
| Advisory on COVID-19 Imposter Scams and Money Mule Schemes | COVID19 MM FIN-2020-A003 | 07/7/2020 | FIN-2020-A003 |
| Advisories on Loan Modification and Foreclosure Rescue Scams | FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAM | 08/06/2012 | FIN-2009-A001 FIN-2010-A006 FIN-2012-A009 |
| Advisory on COVID-19 Medical Scams | COVID19 FIN-2020-A002 | 05/18/2020 | FIN-2020-A002 |
| Advisory on FATF Jurisdictions with AML/CFT Deficiencies | FEBRUARY 2020 FATF FIN-2020-A001 | 03/26/2020 | FIN-2020-A001 |
| Notice to Financial Institutions on COVID-19 | COVID19 | 03/16/2020 | FIN-2020-NTC1 |
| Advisories on Trafficking of Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids | FENTANYL FIN-2019-A006 | 08/21/2019 | FIN-2019-A006 FIN-2011-A009 |
| Advisories on Email Compromise Fraud Schemes | BEC FRAUD EAC FRAUD BEC DATA THEFT |
07/16/2019 | FIN-2019-A005 |
| Advisory on Illicit Convertible Virtual Currency Activity | CVC FIN-2019-A003 | 05/09/2019 | FIN-2019-A003 |
| Updated Advisory on Public Corruption in Venezuela | VENEZUELA CORRUPTION FIN-2019-A002 | 05/03/2019 | FIN-2019-A002 |
| Advisories on Iranian Regime and Malign Activities | IRAN FIN-2018-A006 | 10/11/2018 | FIN-2018-A006 FIN-2010-A008 |
| Advisory on Proceeds of Public Corruption in Nicaragua | NICARAGUA FIN-2018-A005 | 10/04/2018 | FIN-2018-A005 |
| Advisory on Human Rights Abuses Enabled by Corrupt Senior Foreign Political Figures | FINANCIAL FACILITATOR FIN-2018-A003 | 06/12/2018 | FIN-2018-A003 |
| Advisories on North Korea | See Advisory for Details | 11/02/2017 | FIN-2017-A008 FIN-2013-A005 FIN-2009-A002 |
| Advisory on Disaster-Related Fraud | DISASTER-RELATED FRAUD | 10/31/2017 | FIN-2017-A007 |
| Advisory on Public Corruption in Venezuela | VENEZUELAN CORRUPTION | 09/20/2017 | FIN-2017-A006 |
| Advisory on Political Corruption in South Sudan | SOUTH SUDAN | 09/06/2017 | FIN-2017-A004 |
| Advisory on Real Estate Firms and Professionals | ADVISORY REAL ESTATE | 08/22/2017 | FIN-2017-A003 |
| Advisory to Financial Institutions on Cyber-Events and Cyber-Enabled Crime | See Advisory for Details | 10/25/2016 | FIN-2016-A005 |
|
Advisory on Email Compromise Fraud Schemes |
BEC Fraud |
09/06/2016 | FIN-2016-A003 |
| Advisory on Human Smuggling and Human Trafficking Schemes |
ADVISORY HUMAN SMUGGLING |
09/11/2014 | FIN-2014-A008 |
| Advisory on U.S. Currency Restrictions in Mexico: Funnel Accounts and TBML |
FUNNEL ACCOUNT |
05/28/2014 | FIN-2014-A005 |
| Advisories on Trade Based Money Laundering | TBML BMPE FUNNEL ACCOUNT MX RESTRICTION |
05/28/2014 | FIN-2014-A005 FIN-2010-A001 |
| Advisory on Citizen by Investment Programs in Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis | SKN PASSPORT | 05/20/2014 | FIN-2014-A004 |
| Advisories on U.S. Currency Restrictions in Mexico | MX RESTRICTION | 09/27/2013 | FIN-2013-A007 FIN-2012-A006 FIN-2010-A007 |
| Advisories on Syria | SYRIA | 04/15/2013 | FIN-2013-A002 FIN-2011-A010 FIN-2011-A013 |
| Update Advisories on Tax Refund and Related Identity Theft | TAX REFUND FRAUD | 02/26/2013 | FIN-2012-A005 FIN-2013-A001 |
| Advisory on Third-Party Payment Processors | Payment Processor | 10/22/2012 | FIN-2012-A010 |
| Advisory on SAR Confidentiality for Internal and External Counsel of Financial Institutions | See Advisory for Details | 03/02/2012 | FIN-2012-A002 |
| Advisory on Foreign-Located MSBs | See Advisory for Details | 02/15/2012 | FIN-2012-A001 |
| Advisory on Account Takeover Activity | ACCOUNT TAKEOVER FRAUD | 12/19/2011 | FIN-2011-A016 |
| Advisory on Commercial Real Estate Fraud | CREF | 03/30/2011 | FIN-2011-A007 |
| Advisory on Elderly Financial Exploitation | elder financial exploitation | 02/22/2011 | FIN-2011-A003 |
| Advisory on Informal Value Transfer System | IVTS | 09/01/2010 | FIN-2010-A011 |
| Advisory on Home Equity Conversions Mortgage Fraud Schemes | HECM FHA |
04/27/2010 | FIN-2010-A005 |
| Advisory on TARP-Related Programs | SIGTARP | 10/14/2009 | FIN-2009-A006 |
| Advisory on Structuring by Casino Patrons and Personnel | See Advisory for Details | 07/01/2009 | FIN-2009-A003 |
Questions or comments regarding the contents of this guide should be addressed to the FinCEN Regulatory Helpline at 800-949-2732.