This article is based on information from the book "The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can" by Alan C. Logan, which provides a comprehensive look at Frank W. Abagnale's claims throughout his career. The book is very well researched and provides extensive citations to demonstrate that Abagnale's claims are mostly false or in a few cases, greatly embellished.
Throughout his professional life as a speaker, Abagnale has said a lot. A good portion is repeating the same tales over and over to different groups with small variations for the most part. However, his talks have evolved over the decades as he had to adjust his narrative to evade pesky facts that disprove his claims. Despite that, he has still said several things that stand out. Below are a few select quotes, words directly from Abagnale, along with some commentary that explainst heir signifigance.
"I was proud of the fact that I never swindled an individual, just companies that could afford it." - 1985
This is a central claim in his story that he has repeated for decades, and still does to this day. However, the research by Alan Logan has proven that Abagnale defrauded numerous individuals. In one of his earliest cons, Abagnale repeatedly stole from the parents of the woman he stalked, Paula Parks. Logan summarizes at one point:
"He did not appear to realize that [Paula's parents] had already discovered the entire ruse and knew that he had been stealing from them."
In his research, Logan obtained a copy of a signed affidavit from Frank Abagnale, written after one of his arrests. From page 284 in the book, he quotes part of it that directly contradicts one of Abagnale's most repeated lies:
"I admit giving checks to the Tuckahoe Camera Shop, Victoria Laundry and Maresco's Tailors," Abagnale wrote in his signed affidavit. "I know that I did wrong and I am willing to pay the people their money..." he added.
There are other things Abagnale has said that ring true, although he probably doesn't realize how so. For example, on page 297 Logan quotes from a letter Abagnale wrote on March 2, 1969 while in Baton Rouge:
"I have always found that I had to be a fake to find someone who cares." - Frank Abagnale
This is one of many ironic quotes that accurately describe his career. His actual exploits were nothing but petty crime with a world of exaggeration and lies to make it more interesting. Him being a fake is what landed him speaking gigs that turned into his career. From page 313, in 1980, Abagnale provides another great quote in which he admits to what he is:
"Actually, I haven't changed. All the needs that made me a criminal are still there. I have simply found a legal and socially acceptable way to fulfill those needs. I'm still a con artist."
One of the most ironic quotes from Abagnale came a lot more recently. From page 327, he is quoted from 2018 talking about ethics and lying:
"We live in an extremely unethical society. There are no ethics taught at home or in school... this generation thinks it's OK to lie, cheat and steal." - Frank Abagnale 2018
Perhaps they learned from Frank and his generation.