"The Art of the Stea"l by Frank Abagnale.

Essay by tacomaranchCollege, UndergraduateA+, January 2006

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Mr. Abagnale is known as one of the world's most respectful authorities on check fraud, embezzlement and secure documents. He has developed new procedures and created manuals and educations programs utilized by over 14,000 financial institutions, law enforcement agencies and corporations. He is most famous for the recent film success Catch Me if You Can, which was about his life in crime, Mr. Abagnale said he wrote the book more than 23 years ago and it was written from his perspective as a 16 year old. The movie over dramatized and exaggerated some of the story. He is married for over 25 years and now has 3 sons. He considers his past immoral, unethical and illegal. He turned the bad into the good and now has a multi million consulting firm.

Mr. Abagnale was the subject of the best selling book, "Catch Me If You Can" and the author of "The Art of the Steal". I shall review the second of the two, "The Art of the Stea"l, specifically, check fraud.

The book starts out with a story of a young woman who had her identity stolen. Her social security number, address and phone number with her driver license were all used in the purchase of a new truck, several thousands in credit cards charges, and even a warrant for her arrest for marijuana.

Mr. Abagnale had passed over $2.5 million dollars in bad checks through out all fifty states and in twenty six countries, all before he was of age to drink. He had the "distinction" of becoming one of the most hunted criminals by the FBI.

His was caught by the French police when he was 21 and spent six months in a French prison, where he was extradited to Sweden and served another six months for...