Frank Abagnale scheduled for July 15 general session

Frank W. Abagnale is one of the world’s most respected authorities on the subjects of forgery, embezzlement and secure documents. And last year, he became the subject of a major motion picture, Catch Me if You Can, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring, among others, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.

For more than 25 years, Abagnale has lectured to and consulted with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations and government agencies around the world. His latest book, The Art of the Steal, is now available through Random House/Broadway Books.

His rare blend of knowledge and expertise began as a teenager. More than 30 years ago, he was known as one of the world’s most famous confidence men as depicted in his best-selling book, Catch Me if You Can.

He cashed $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in every state and 26 foreign countries over a five-year period. Between the ages of 16 and 21, he successfully posed as an airline pilot, an attorney, a college professor and a pediatrician. Apprehended by the French police when he was 21 years old, he served time in French, Swedish and U.S. prison systems. After five years, he was released on the condition that he would help the government, without remuneration, by teaching and assisting federal law enforcement agencies.

Abagnale has been associated with the FBI for more than 25 years. He lectures extensively at the FBI Academy and for the agency’s field offices. More than 14,000 financial institutions, corporations and law enforcement agencies use his programs. In 1998 he was selected as a distinguished member of the "Pinnacle 400" by CNN Financial News.