The Real Story of Frank Abagnale is Far Crazier than Hollywood Says 

Did anyone notice how he was morally sane despite all? Knowing when to quit when lives were in danger.

No violence, sex trafficking, or drug involvement , huh? Pretty cool.

I was fortunate to meet Mr Abagnale at a nerd computer fest (ASCII) a few years ago. He was extremely humble and remorseful about his past. It was incredible to sit and hear his story from his own mouth, and see tears in his eyes and his voice tremble as he recounted the sorrow he felt about his exploits. Truly moving experience. A very genuine human being.

Frank also helped to develop an Ink that doesn't wash off of security paper for checks and other security/financial documents. Along with countless other "fixes" to the banking system.

His timing was excellent. Nowadays nobody can get away with ANYTHING. He was very innovative and clever, his IQ must be high. He was also fearless.

he passed the bar exam. hes officially a lawyer

The most rebellious thing I did was saying no to my parents.

The book "Catch me if you can" is 1000% more fascinating than the movie.

Oh my god, The old narrator is back!

He has done so much in such a short time of his teenage years, imagine if he was never caught. I’m so fascinated in his life rn I’d love to buy and read his books.

I'm so old that I actually remember seeing him on To Tell The Truth. I remember even at that time, thinking he was one of the most fascinating people I've ever seen.

Fun fact, Frank Abagnale Jr is actually in "catch me if you can" he plays the french police chief when DiCaprio gets arrested outside his printing shop in France.

I read all 3 of his book they are amazing. As a joke I forged his autograph in one of the books. ;-)

This guy was what you can call a real life genius... Very impressive, very clever, very smart,... Just overall one of a kind.

FINALLY this voice is back your voice is so relaxing 😍

I can't explain how much I like this man 👏 This is the kind of crime I can live with. , no murder , no violence , no drugs , no sex. Just a normal guy living the high life by being creative. Diosa approves.

The book, "The greatest Hoax on earth, catching truth while we can" claims that most of what was written in the book "Catch me if you can" claims that the vast majority was either embellished or just made up. For instance the hospital he supposedly worked in, no who worked there at the time can remember he was there and the position that he worked on the night shift did not exist. The place he worked for as a lawyer, no one can recall him having worked there. Pan Am said that the amount that he stole with bad checks is no where near what he claims it is. It's virtually impossible to escape from a plane in the matter he describes. The prison he said he escaped from has no record of him ever having been there.

Thanks, I've watched the movie several times on TV and figured there was probably more to the story than they showed (there usually is---either that, or they _changed_ a lot of the stuff). I enjoy your channel. Stay safe, everyone, and Happy New Year!

6:56 I never thought I'd tell anyone this... But.... Once on Halloween I took two candies from a take one candy bowl.. phew thank God I got that off my chest

Stealing brand new cars from car lots and selling them to chop shops in my early teens. I'm 40 now and still paying for the crimes I've committed back then. IT'S NOT WORTH IT KID'S!!!!!!!!! A criminal record will follow you til the day you die! 🚨🚨🚨🚨... DO NOT BREAK THE LAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CRIME DOES NOT PAY!

I thought this was Ferdinand Waldo Demara for a second. Their stories are pretty similar. Except Demara saved lives by performing surgery. It’s crazy. Like he pretended to be doctor and worked on a ship during World War II and studied medicine while posing to know what he was talking about and he remembers things so well that when the time came he could actually deliver. He was a prison warden, convent member, and doctor, none of which he was qualified for/genuine about.

I love the cheeky way the narrators on this channel remind us to hit the like button it’s great.

In Canada we have this kid named The Barefoot Bandit. He would break into a house, use their credit cards/address for books on how to fly planes etc, then go steal planes. He was Canada's catch me if you can guy. Both are equally crazy stories. You should cover him too.

I read his book with amazement, this guy always found a way to succeed. Frank was the best ever.

At least the federal government/banks saw his potential and offered to side with him and gain his knowledge. So in the end, it all worked out. He might say he's not proud of what he's done, but seriously, he has to have some sort of pride. Lots of people have tried to fight the government and have ended up penniless and have been made an outcast, for less offenses!

To be honest, this video is way more entertaining than the movie itself..

I used to see “ABAGNALE & ASSOCIATES” on my checks and wondered what it meant now I know, haha.

But he really went the good route in all ways in the end..i like..

He took the words “fake it till you make it” literally

The real Jarad “The Pretender”😂

He looks like the younger version of Tom cruise

Unfortunately -- according to a new book I just read -- it appears that Franks story is almost entirely a work of fiction, that he created to make money from talks, books and of course the movie. Very little of the story he tells is true. He was never a pilot, never a lawyer, never a doctor, never worked for the FBI, or anything else he claims. It appears he did forge a few checks (badly), stole from people who trusted him, got caught several times, and spent most of the 1960's in jail. Ironically, it seems he's conned us into believing he was a master con artist! This video should be re-labelled "The UN-real story of Frank Abagnale..."

I've heard that Abignale embellished all that he had done. In other words he has lied about the things that he had faked.

I've never been impressed with doctors, but passing lsat without college (& 250k debt) impressive. It's not as if he hurt anyone, Robin Hood-ish

Wasn't mentioned & don't know if he did it for real, but one of my favorite scenes in the movie was when he impersonated the substitute teacher....& was arranging field trips when he got caught😂

I was a homeless junkie, I was just just as addicted to boosting to support my habit. Unknowingly I used a lot of the same techniques that frank used. I'm glad I was able to get that part of my life back in order and now I use those powers for good. It feels way better to build than to steal.

I haven't watched the movie but I have read the novel. He made me realized that being young doesn't hinder you on doing awesome crazy things😅😍

This is all based on FA's book - which has been comprehensively *proven* to be false or grossly exaggerated. Sometimes the events described are even physically impossible owing to Abagnale's being in jail most of the time from 1965 to 1970.

You've ya guys ur topics are so interesting.

Frank Abagnale also lied in his book about quite a few details. He spent a couple of years in prison while he was supposedly flying around the world. Also, the drop box story was debunked in the late 70’s by a reporter at the San Francisco chronicle

There's a compelling motivational speech Frank Abagnale gave that's on RU-vid that is worth checking out.

He might not be proud of himself, but many are proud of him!

I love your channel and have a belated Merry Christmas

This is what pretty much exactly happened in the movie...

Sound like me trying to get something out of the kitchen at night

You need to do a more through investigation on Frank Abagnale. The bathroom escape was only in the movie he really escaped where food was prepared.

One of my favorite movies. I know you can’t cover everything in a movie but I was surprised about some of the other things he did.

This is exactly what I needed, something different to learn about. People are amazing even when they come up with dodgy plans. If only his ideas were legal, he would’ve been known in history as a mastermind - instead of a con artist.

This was a real story to watch after watching the movie. It’s absolutely insane how a 17 yr old was able to do all that and not get caught until years later!

Frank would come into the restaurant I worked in... It was right after the movie came out, and I didn't put 2 and 2 together till a coworker told me. SUPER nice guy, super polite and charming and really nice to servers- that's how you tell what a person is REALLY like. Frank and Garth Brooks' and Trisha Yearwood's assistant coming in for take out, (then not tipping over 10%) are two of my brushes with "celebrities"...

He's what we called 50 years ago, a "sneaky little shit."

Back in high school I took personal finance and we watched this movie during a unit about checks. In the unit we learned how to wright a check and what happens if a check gets bounced.

Yay good to have you back

THE VOICE!!! ITS BACK!! SO HAPPYYYYY

This was amazing story telling! Hats off!

I have met Frank twice. He is brilliant man and learning the personal aspects of his youth and growing up it is understandable why he did the things he did.

My first boss once told me: To go far in life all you need is a really good line of bullsh*t.

I actually had the movie on VHF and then eventually now I bought it on DVD. I really like the movie I have seen it several times

From the age of 18-21 he was in jail.

Loved the movie! His story is truly AMAZING! Thanks for the actual true facts, so cool!

You need to update this. His biggest con was lying about his cons. He was in jail most of his teen years. Dig deeper.

Thank you as always for the content I appreciate it ❤❤❤❤❤❤👌👌

Read the Wikipedia article on Frank. Most of these stories about his cons are fraudulent. He has been conning us about his life for almost 50 years.

Be Amazed, you have gave me a lot of knowledge about a lot of different subjects. Thank you. Keep doing what you're doing.

Wowza Narrator now you’ve really amazed me

Great to hear your voice. I confess I don’t watch the videos with the other narrator. 🥺♥️🦋

His entire story is FABRICATED! The truth has come out now. He was mostly in and out of prison during his teens. None of his claims are real. His real con was getting the whole world to believe his extravagant crimes that are totally false! Loved the movie though...

Nice Easter egg at the end brother LOL it looks like Jason Bateman is his son hahaha wouldn't that be something huh?

I read his book about 20 years before the movie (or more). I recommend you read the book.

Are there any other sources to this video then Franks retellings, which could be entirely fictional?

Still watching the film till now. Amazing

Liked and subscribed love your channel the way you put these videos together is great

One thing I know for sure is true about Frank is that he is a genius

In France Leonardo was arrested by the real Frank Abagnale Jr the guy playing in the movie based on

7:20 - How is this guy 16 to 21 years old? That's crazy.

Dear precious one, remain strong, for the eye of Jesus Christ is always on you, you are NEVER alone. We can find many examples of Father God's watchful eye on the lives of His people in the Holy Bible. For example, when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to build the house of God, enemies sought to frighten and discourage them (Ezra 4 : 4). The Israelites stopped at first, but continued after God encouraged them through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (4 : 24-5:2). Once again, enemies came to hassle them. But this time they persevered, knowing “the eye of their God was watching over [them]” (5 : 5). They held on firmly to God’s instructions and trusted Him to carry them through whatever opposition they’d face. Sure enough, God moved the Persian king to support the temple’s completion (vv. 13-14). Similarly, Simon sought God’s wisdom to discern whether he should stay or find a new position. Sensing God calling him to remain, he relied on God’s strength to persevere. Over time, he slowly gained his colleagues’ acceptance. As we seek to follow God, wherever He places us, we may face opposition along the way. That’s when we need to keep following Him. He will guide us and carry us through. So dear one, don't be afraid to place your life in the comfort and safety of our Creator. Acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of our Savior. Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life. Welcome Abba Yahweh (Father God) through Yeshua (Jesus the Christ) into your life. Receive grace by believing in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross, His death, burial and resurrection for the sins of all mankind. You will then be justified in salvation and forever blessed with His abundant love by the Holy Spirit! May God bless you in the Glorious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior.❤️❤️❤️

Great video, watching the movie I believed Abagnale was a mastermind genius yes he was very intelligent BUT I believe (thanks to this video) it was mainly his guile and minerals (balls) that gave him so much success, he was prepared to do more than the average criminal and it paid off for him (mostly).

He didn't fake being a lawyer. He passed the bar.

Now I want to watch the movie and read the book.

This is outdated. Look it up. A whole new twist.

At 7:23 I heard “f*cking over blank miles”

Frank Abagnale now resides in Charleston, South Carolina, not Charleston, California.

I think they this would be a good story. I was opening my Kit Kat and I saw that it was fully chocolate.

the fact that he was a 17 y/o kid who looked forty, helped his scams. my baby face was getting carded at bars until I was 30. lol I do look 10 yrs younger than my current age of 64, so there's that plus now👍

I was a master signature forger in school. So everyone came to me to fake anything requiring their parents signature 🤣

You voice is awesome if you were my teacher I wouldn't fail any of your subjects.

I had not heard of Frank, when I read his book. I couldn't put it down, I marvelled at his brazenness and ingenuity. The movie was very Hollywood-ised, too smooth and light-hearted. Frank's description of his French prison experience was frightening. Leonardo was miscast. Frank got away with the pilot scam because of his physical appearance, and Leonardo doesn't work for me.

He spent most of his teens in jail. Most of the check scams were real. Though he made most of everything else up. Per public record the "flying con man" was actually sitting in a jail cell.

Frank may have passed a bar exam after three tries. However, he was not a legitimate attorney in any State until and unless he was officially admitted to the bar by the State Court, which he was not.

What an adventure. He got balls of steel than most of us

Yo this man is the best impostor I’ve ever seen. And I thought CORPSE was good

It’s mostly fictional, amaze us by doing some actual research.

I haven’t seen the movie but I’ve seen the musical twice and I found this hole story Very fascinating

Shame on the poster of this video. Read Alan C. Logan’s book.

He is a true intelligent guy.

Its also a tv show called white caller

One in a billion! Bow to your genius.

too bad its now been proved that about 80% of Frank's claimed scams are bullshit and he primarily preyed on normal folks that couldnt afford to lose money and not these big evil corporations like the book and movie make out. for instance during the time he claimed he was a pilot (as a teen no less) and scamming with the fake checks he was actually sitting in a jail in Baton Rouge for three years. So yeah not impressed at all but not that surprising that a con-man is a total liar.

Most "rebellious" thing I did as a kid was hack into a state representatives offices database discovering voter registration logs for my county that were not supposed to be stored.

I didn’t even notice how a drop off box being out of service sounds ridiculous at first 😂