Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake

Frank W. Abagnale · Stan Redding

Nov 2002 · Crown

About this ebook

The uproarious, bestselling true story of the world's most sought-after con man, immortalized by Leonardo DiCaprio in DreamWorks' feature film of the same name, from the author of Scam Me If You Can. 

Frank W. Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams, and Robert Monjo, was one of the most daring con men, forgers, imposters, and escape artists in history. In his brief but notorious criminal career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and copiloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as the supervising resident of a hospital, practiced law without a license, passed himself off as a college sociology professor, and cashed over $2.5 million in forged checks, all before he was twenty-one.

Known by the police of twenty-six foreign countries and all fifty states as "The Skywayman," Abagnale lived a sumptuous life on the lam—until the law caught up with him. Now recognized as the nation's leading authority on financial foul play, Abagnale is a charming rogue whose hilarious, stranger-than-fiction international escapades, and ingenious escapes-including one from an airplane-make Catch Me If You Can an irresistible tale of deceit.

Ratings and reviews

The writing style takes some getting used to, but the real life action an thrilling stories pulls everything together.

The stories move smoothly and easily. It reads like multiple short stories all with the same character, following chronologically. The acts Frank was able to pull off are hysterical and audacious. His smoothness and suave come across in his concise and well mannered writing. Fun, quick, and easy book to read through.

One if the best books I've read and the fact that its a true story makes it even better. This story will have you rooting for a man that could con anyone with just a look and a signature.

About the author

A former professional impostor, Frank W. Abagnale is one of the world’s most respected authorities on the subjects of forgery and secure documents. A world-renowned consultant for more than twenty-five years, he lectures at the FBI’s Financial Crimes Unit and is a secure-document expert for the Standard Register Company and other high-security printers around the world.