Frank Abagnale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Abagnale
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Abagnale in 2008
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Frank William Abagnale Jr.
April 27, 1948 Bronxville, New York, U.S.
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| Citizenship | United States, France |
| Occupation | Secure document consultant |
| Criminal charge(s) | Auto larceny, theft, forgery, fraud |
| Criminal penalty |
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Frank William Abagnale Jr. (born April 27, 1948) is an American security consultant who is famous for his past life as a trickster and forger. When he was young, he got into trouble for writing fake checks and tricking people and businesses.
Later, he became famous for telling amazing stories about his past. He claimed he had pretended to be a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer. These stories were told in his 1980 book, Catch Me If You Can. The book was later made into a popular movie in 2002, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
However, many people have questioned if his exciting stories are true. Journalists and researchers have found evidence that suggests many of his claims were made up or greatly exaggerated. Today, Abagnale runs a company that advises others on how to prevent fraud.
Contents
Early Life and First Troubles
Frank William Abagnale Jr. was born in Bronxville, New York. His parents divorced when he was a teenager. He lived with his father in Mount Vernon, New York.
Abagnale has said his first dishonest act was against his own father. He used his father's gas credit card to get thousands of dollars in cash. He was only 15. Because of this, he says he was sent to a special school for boys who had gotten into trouble.
In 1964, at age 16, he joined the U.S. Navy but was let go after only three months. Soon after, he was arrested for minor theft. A month later, he was arrested again for pretending to be a police officer.
In June 1965, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Abagnale for stealing a car. He had driven it from New York to California. He paid for the trip using stolen checks.
Famous Stories and Real Events
Abagnale is best known for the incredible jobs he claimed to have held while on the run. However, records show a different story.
The Airline Pilot
Abagnale claimed he pretended to be a Pan American World Airways pilot for years. He said he flew millions of miles for free. The truth is more complicated.
After being released to his father's care, 17-year-old Abagnale did get a pilot's uniform. But he was soon arrested for check forgery. He was sentenced to three years in a New York prison. He was released after two years but broke his parole and was sent back for another year.
After his final release in 1968, he moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He told people he was a pilot. The local reverend became suspicious and called the airline, who said Abagnale was a fraud. The police arrested him. He was found guilty of theft and forgery but fled to Europe before his sentence began.
Time in Europe
In Europe, Abagnale's troubles continued. He was arrested in France in September 1969 for theft. He spent three months in a prison in Perpignan.
After that, he was sent to Sweden. There, he was found guilty of fraud and spent two months in a prison in Malmö. He was then sent back to the United States in 1970.
Return to the United States
Back in the U.S., Abagnale, then 22, dressed as a pilot again. He traveled to college campuses, passing bad checks. He was arrested in Georgia in November 1970 for cashing about $1,500 in fake Pan Am checks.
He was sentenced to 12 years in a federal prison. He was released on parole in 1974 after serving about two years.
A New Career
After his release from prison, Abagnale had trouble holding down regular jobs. He says he was often fired when his past was discovered.
According to his story, he decided to use his knowledge for good. In 1975, he offered to teach a bank's staff about the tricks used to create fake checks. This launched his new career as a security consultant. He started his own company, Abagnale & Associates, to advise businesses on preventing fraud.
He became a public speaker, telling his life story to audiences. He also appeared on TV shows like The Tonight Show. His book, Catch Me If You Can, made him even more famous. Abagnale himself made a small appearance in the movie as a French police officer.
Are the Stories True?
For many years, people have investigated Abagnale's claims. Many journalists and researchers have found that his stories don't match public records.
What Records Show
- Time in Prison: Abagnale claimed he spent five years on the run, from age 16 to 21, pulling off his biggest scams. However, prison records show that he was in Great Meadow Prison in New York for most of that time (from age 17 to 20).
- The Doctor Story: He claimed he worked as a pediatrician for a year in a Georgia hospital. But hospital officials said this never happened. Records show he was in prison during the time he claimed to be a doctor.
- The Lawyer Story: He said he passed the Louisiana bar exam and worked for the state's attorney general. But the Louisiana State Bar Association has no record of him ever taking the exam or working there.
Abagnale's Response
In 2002, Abagnale posted a statement on his website. He said that the co-writer of his book Catch Me If You Can had "overdramatized and exaggerated" parts of the story to make it more exciting.
However, Abagnale had been telling these same grand stories on TV and in interviews for years before the book was even written. This suggests the stories came from him, not just his co-writer.
When reporters ask him about details from his past, he sometimes says he can't remember. For example, when asked about his claim of being a professor at Brigham Young University, he said his co-author must have exaggerated it.
The FBI Connection
Abagnale has often said that he has worked with the FBI for over 40 years. He claims he was released from prison to help the bureau. The FBI has said that Abagnale has given lectures at their academy from time to time. However, they have not confirmed his stories of doing undercover work or being a special partner.
Many of his claims, like being on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" list, have been proven false. He later admitted he was never on the list.
Personal Life
Abagnale lives with his wife, Kelly, in Charleston, South Carolina. They have three sons. Abagnale says that meeting his wife was what inspired him to change his life and leave his past behind.
Books
- Catch Me If You Can, 1980.
- The Art of the Steal, 2001.
- Real U Guide to Identity Theft, 2004.
- Stealing Your Life, 2007.
- Scam Me If You Can, 2019.
See also
In Spanish: Frank Abagnale Jr. para niños
- The Great Impostor, a 1961 movie about another famous impersonator, Ferdinand Waldo Demara
- Elliot Castro, a Scottish former fraudster
- William Douglas Street Jr., an American con artist and impersonator
