Catch Me If You Can Author Frank W. Abagnale Speaks at Clarkson University

www.clarkson.edu
Frank W. Abagnale, the bestselling author and subject of the film Catch Me If You Can, shared his story at Clarkson University's 2016 Alumni Reunion Weekend.
A renowned cybersecurity and fraud prevention expert, Abagnale is one of the world's most respected authorities on forgery, embezzlement and secure documents. For more than 40 years he has worked with, advised and consulted with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations and government agencies around the world.
Abagnale's blend of knowledge and expertise began more than 45 years ago when he was known as one of the world's most famous confidence men. His bestselling autobiography, Catch Me If You Can, was adapted into the 2002 Academy Award-nominated film, in which Abagnale was portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. A Broadway musical of the same name also won a Tony Award in 2011.
Apprehended by the French police when he was 21 years old, he served time in the French, Swedish and U.S. prison systems. After five years, he was released on the condition that he would help the federal government -- without remuneration -- by teaching and assisting federal law enforcement agencies.
Abagnale has now been associated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for more than four decades. More than 14,000 financial institutions, corporations and law enforcement agencies use his fraud prevention programs. In 1998, he was selected as a distinguished member of Pinnacle 400 by CNN Financial News -- a select group of 400 people chosen on the basis of great accomplishment and success in their fields.
In 2004, Abagnale was selected as the spokesperson for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the National Cyber Security Alliance. He has also written numerous articles and books, including The Art of the Steal, The Real U Guide to Identity Theft and Stealing Your Life.

[@KKP007]

one of the best speech i have ever witnessed

[@detroitergirl5842]

agree (Y)

[@kuatiogui]

should have started his speech with "my name is Frank Abagnale, that's Abagnale, not Abagnarle, not Abagnaile, but Abagnale."

[@despiteallmyrage6813]

Ghost Mcqueen Hahaha! You totally just made coffee shoot out of my nose! Absolutely LOVE that comment!

[@lalalou1372]

hahah i love this comment

[@The_Space_Born]

He looks like Ray Bradbury.

[@StudioSerious1]

Now take your seats!

[@wrightway65]

As a person without a Dad in their life, your comments at 21:29 make me tear up. Only few dads are true fathers. God bless.

[@samuela9245]

guy gives the same speech everytime

[@Mkuladeep]

Thanks a lot Steven Spielberg, "Catch me if you can" has been my favorite movie of all time. I stay far away from my parents and listening to this speech has reminded me of them a lot...... Thank you sir!

[@barbaracarr519]

A very moving speech and great reminder of what in life is really important.

[@ayylmao4302]

bruh why all his life story speeches the same word for word

[@ClassALiving]

Just watched the movie, this was great hearing the real story too

[@despiteallmyrage6813]

Class A Living Read the book. It's so amazing. And it's surprisingly so spot-on accurate to the movie, too. Give or take a few scenes thrown in for Hollywood-purposes. I'm so used to a film claiming to be "based on a true story" but then when you watch it, almost nothing in the movie is what really happened. That's always irritated the shit outta me. Especially when I read the book first and get excited about the film. But I suppose that's Hollywood for ya. The only other "true story" turned film that I've also read the book on is *"Alpha Dog"*. The story about a group of teenagers who kidnapped a 14-year-old boy back in November of 2000 because his brother owed them money. They just had the kid hanging out with them, following them around for 2 days. They didn't tie him up or anything like that. A couple of them had even told him that he could leave and go home if he wanted to, and he ended up staying with them. He even befriended a couple of them and was left alone several times. Anyway, the story had always intrigued me for a few reasons. 1 because I had lived out in Southern California at the time that this had happened. Nowhere near that same area, but not too far away either. Maybe an hour drive. And 2, because I was the same exact age as these kids. And at the time my personality, lifestyle, and group of friends was soo similar to these kids that I have always wondered, had i lived in that area, would I have been friends with them? Silly to think, I know, but it does make you wonder. Anyway, i was blown away at how exact and accurate the movie was to the book and to what had happened in real life. Some scenes are even verbatim, word for word from the book.

[@nocucksinkekistan7321]

You DESPITE ALL MY RAGE are on every single Catch me if you can video.

[@bradl7499]

Just saw and heard his story this morning at the KnowBe4 convention in Orlando FL.. amazing story.

[@billiefisher2468]

It's amazing how much easier life is today, but at the same time how much tougher in so many different ways.

[@JohnnyRei]

*Thank you* for uploading this. Truly *inspiring* speech.

[@ttanizawa901]

Incredible story, incredible man.

[@heavynumbertaco]

Frank,that was touching.Honest,it brought a tear to my eye.You poor guy,so show me the Ace

[@thelastworriorwarriour3062]

JOE BLOW I am totally speechless!

[@marticalittlewitch.7887]

I am so inspired by you. God bless you, and your family. I totally understand you.

[@Cookies_z]

So heartbreaking, his story

[@nocucksinkekistan7321]

it makes you wish it was him

[@razer0072073]

Truly inspiring

[@edp3595]

He is genius

[@nocucksinkekistan7321]

no his IQ is 145

[@320Scott]

Same speech every time -- down to the syllable.

[@christinelee2011]

Scott Phillips I noticed the same. I can’t tell if that’s a good or bad thing.

[@ClarksonU]

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[@dartmada9733]

I don't know if Frank Abagnale would see this or not but I have a question. after you got out of prison and starting consulting for the FBI and private companies did you ever pay back the money you got from your cons? I've read that you make millions of dollars (legitimately) per year from your consulting work. I think yours is a great story. maybe not you doing it in the first place but the ways you did it are very clever. plus you didn't target poor, vulnerable people for everything they had like some assholes do; just big corporations. not that that excuses it but there IS a difference. plus since then you've probably done a lot more good than bad. good life to you

[@katiehochstetler1459]

Yes he paid back every thing that he took. I have a cassette tape of his story that says he did. I had taped his story from a radio program years ago an have listened to it many times. I always felt his story would become a movie

[@tulayamalavenapi4028]

I wish you were my Daddy. I think having a mother and father is essential only if they are decent and loving human beings. In contrast to you, I spent my nights crying from about 2 yrs old to 16. My mother never told me she loved me, and my father was totally mesmerized with this horrible lady he called his wife. He never told me he loved me either. One of them or both of them ran over me with the family car when I was two years old, so I got permanently traumatized by these parents. I wonder what you can advise these type of children such as myself about having a mother and father.

[@bizspot9979]

It looks like based on the videos I've seen is that love and purpose starts with your family, everything else in life really means nothing if it doesn't stem from the commitment that you give to your significant other and the family you have. Wish you the best.

[@tulayamalavenapi4028]

Please tell me how you got the employee number in the very beginning when the uniform place would not take your check or your cash? How did they bill Pan Am for your very first pilot uniform?❓❔❕⁉️ That's a crucial detail that's got me crazy! 😊

[@jediknutt620]

Crystal Li He made it up. The bill was of course unable to be paid.

[@lucatoscani1525]

Fantastic

[@estebank4592]

Incredible, great film by Steven Spielberg

[@clearcombatselfdefenseandf6302]

He punished his father after their divorce and never saw him again. His dad died in an freak accident while running for a train in NY he fell and broke his neck on a railing. He should have kept in touch with his dad like the movie.

[@ikonen2490]

Pretty sure he would have been caught way sooner like that though.

[@Fixtify]

Was the F.B.I agent called Carl was he even real?

[@Angelina-fn9gk]

Fixt frank and carl became friends when the film was released in 2002 they were still friends but I don't know if his real name was carl

[@khalilclemens1560]

no, his real name was Joseph Shea

[@dartmada9733]

khalil clemens they probably changed it for privacy reasons

[@jongauti7792]

Why did he say that god was a she

[@robbiebracken3451]

@littleheath_ don't bother.

[@gooneygames7082]

Leo aged horribly

[@saskoilersfan]

I can prove frank abignal jr was db cooper._.

[@BB-xm6hy]

how

[@jaytee6016]

For someone that did so much with his life with fraud and fooling everybody and the life he was leading making a lot of money he seems so robotic with little personality