Just wanted some opinions on whether or not a SAR would be filed for this situation: farm business customer has a few checks stolen by workers/laborers; checks are duplicated with the same check number but different amounts and different, fictious, names; business customer is out several thousand dollars; some leads as to which of the workers/laborers may have been involved in the stealing scheme. Business customer is a victim in this example. Would there be consideration to file a SAR? Just wanted some opinions.

How does the business customer know it was stolen by his worker/laborer? Did he file a police report?

The business customer does not know whether it was stolen, they assume it was. This was caught by the customer when reviewing their monthly statement. The customer saw three and four checks with the same number but for different amounts and different payees. The checks were duplicated, it is believed, using a laser printer. Yes, police reports have been filed in two neighboring towns to the customer. We provided the customer with surveillance and additional check copies. There is one instance where a check was payable to (for example) John Doe with an address of 123 Main Street. That check was cashed at Branch A. Then one hour later the same check number payable to John Smith with an address of 321 Elm Street for a different amount was cashed at Branch B. In looking at surveillance from both branches, the same person cashed the checks, though with apparent false ID.

I would think this is SAR-worthy if the $25,000 threshhold has been met.