Thu Jan 13 2022

Frank Abagnale Jr

The real story behind the legendary con-artist from the book and movie Catch Me If You Can.

Catch Me If You Can- starring Leonardo Di Caprio- is one of my favorite movies. Director Spielberg based the story on the life of one of the most audacious con artists ever: Frank Abagnale Jr, who also has a cameo as a French police officer arresting his fictional self. If you have seen the movie, you know that Abagnale successfully pretended to be a pilot, a medical doctor, and even a US Official. Nowadays, Abagnale consults the FBI and companies on how to spot and protect themselves against fraudsters like himself. At least if we still dare to believe it...

First experience

In the sixties, a 16-year old Abagnale Jr ran away from home. This was the beginning of his 5-year long career as one of the most audacious con artists the world has ever known. In fact, despite his criminal actions, people usually feel sympathy for the charismatic youngster, trying to survive on the streets of New York. All things aside, the first victim of Abagnale Jr was his father, who received a $3,400 bill after his son took advantage of the gasoline credit card he had been given. After a short and failed adventure in the US Navy, he stole the car of his father's neighbor. This seems typical for how he operated: he gained the trust of his victim, only to then disappear with money or goods forever. When the FBI arrested him for the crime, they soon discovered the youngster had financed his trip from east to the west coast with a stolen bundle of blank checks stolen from a small business back in New York.

Impersonations

While Abagnale had been accused of impersonating US Officials and forgery before, the real turning point emerged when he bought/stole an official pilot uniform to easier cash out forged or stolen blank checks. He rightly figured that the uniform would provide him the legitimacy needed for getting the money without further questions asked. As pictured in the movie, he discovered more or less by accident that pretending to bea pilot also allowed him to fly for free around the world. Travelling had the advantage of being able to cash out checks each time at a new bank, to avoid suspicion. During his numerous trips, he met a Delta Airlines Stewardess. He convinced her and her family to take him in. That is, until he got arrested once again.

To escape from his 12-year-sentence of supervised probation (remember, Abagnale was still very young), he fled to Sweden where he stole a car to drive to Montpellier in France. As in the movie, he was arrested in France. However, right upon returning to the USA sometime later, he picked up where he had left off. It seemed stronger than himself: he visited college campuses, claiming that he was on a mission to recruit Pan Am stewardesses. In the meantime, he still passed bad checks to pay for his expenses. Eventually, Abagnale was charged one more for forging checks that totaled $1 448.60. He received an additional two years since he had escaped from jail before.

Rehabilitation

After this last conviction, Abagnale tried many different jobs, but got fired every time his criminal past was discovered. And when he found a job for a longer time, he couldn't help but start frauding again. Eventually, the con artist -still young- saw an opportunity in explaining to businesses how to protect themselves against fraudsters like Abagnale. Until this date, the former con artist still gives keynotes and interviews regularly.

Current situation

It has to be said that many of the stories as told by Abagnale seem to be exuberant exaggerations, since often little to no evidence exists to support them. Moreover, although Abagnale portrays himself as some sort of modern Robin Hood, only targeting large companies, many of his actual victims were gullible friends and families. Yet, his ability to tickle our imagination in such a way that we suspend our disbelief, shows once more how good of a liar he is. After all, you never know for sure: he may be conning us right now...