ShreyaAs Easy As It Sounds
It was not difficult to fool people. The contrary actually. Frank rented a security guard uniform from a shop and stood near the money box with an out-of-order sign and asked people to leave their cash with him and his casual charm actually made people believe him! He was becoming a natural. He started experimenting with different methods of making money.
Smooth Criminal
Faking bank checks was the primary source of Abagnale Jr’s income. He swindled over 2.5 million dollars in just a couple of years with this idea of his. A 16-year-old, passing off as 26, a millionaire at 18. His next big move would take him above the sky, literally and he started planning for that. But police had gotten a hint of swindling happening in banks and had started looking for the imposter.
Making Dreams Come True, Illegally
Frank’s dream was to live the life of a pilot. He started working on achieving it but forging necessary documents and buying an ID card which cost him mere $5. He modified it to look like an original ID. All he needed now was a uniform to complete his look and his charm and acting skills were enough to get him into the cockpit of any plane.
Got The Wings
To pass for a pilot he needed the uniform of one. He contacted the Pan Am airlines and faked to be an employee. He told them that there was some mix-up from the hotel’s end he was staying at and they lost his uniform. He would need a spare. Believe it or not, THEY believed every word he said and sent him a new set of pilot clothes. He did his homework on the work of the pilots. He wanted to live that life, mostly for the thrill of it.
International Man Of Mystery
Donning pilot clothes, Frank walked confidently through every security checkpoint in the airport and no one stopped him. He pulled the gimmick so convincingly. He was in the cockpit now, ready for his first ever flight. First of hundreds actually. In the interview ahead he says, “They (police authorities) estimated that I flew about a million miles, boarded more than 250 aircraft, in more than 26 countries and that’s probably true because I did a lot of traveling.”
Flying High On Adoration
The teenager was having the time of his life- having affairs with air hostesses, seeing countries without paying a buck and passing off as an adult. His stay in hotels, meals and clothes were all paid for by the Pan Am airlines- because they didn’t know about the teenager imposter among them. While Frank was going across the globe, police were looking for the man who cheated banks of millions of dollars.