Hot Check Artist on Other Side Now
Published in the Abilene Reporter News Friday Dec 9 1977 by Larry Lawrence
If it's true that "it takes a thief to catch a thief" then Frank Abagnale Jr. of Houston should be an expert in nabbing the light-fingered shoppers and check forgers. Abagnale, who will conduct two seminars here Friday is the head of a Houston-based consulting firm engaged in teaching retailers and their employees how to spot the crooks who are extremely active during this time of year. He knows the rpoes, having managed to pass $2.5 million worth of bad checks in every state of the union and 26 foreign countries during a period of about five years.
The reformed hot checker is appearing in Abilene under the aegis of the Abilene Better Business Bureau and a number of co-sponsors. Two identical sessions will be conducted at Rodford Auditorium McMurry College. The afternoon seminar will start at 2 p.m. with the evening session set for 7pm. Each will last between 1 1/2 and 2 hours, according to Joe Felton, executive vice president of the BBB. There will be no charge for the seminar.
"This will be an outstanding program which could save Abilene merchants a lot of money and grief during this season and in the future," Felton said. "Abagnale is considered as one of the top people available in this time of crime prevention education." During the seminar Abagnale will discuss check cashing, both personal and business types; counterfeit money and how to recognize it; credit cards; Texas law with regards to business fraud; the tricks used on merchants by con artists; and the complications of the new invention of the color copier with regards to counterfeit money and other negotiable instruments.
THe consultant currently is involved in a tour of 112 Texas cities, speaking to merchants and giving seminars. He has been serving as a consultant to the type of people he used to victimize since being paroled in 1974 from a federal prison after serving four years. Co-sponsors of the seminar include Citizens Against Crime, Abilene clearing House Association, Savings and Loan League of Abilene, Credit Services bureau, Retail Executive Council of the Chamber of Commerce, Abilene Police Department and Vocational Education and the Abilene Independent School District.
