The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can

by Alan C. Logan, Paula Parks (Foreword), Mark Zinder (Foreword)

Award-winning author unmasks the myth of Frank "Catch Me If You Can" Abagnale with meticulous research and the voices of those who know the truth.In 1969, For decades, Frank W. Abagnale's story has captured the imagination of audiences around the world as a modern-day folk hero-but the truth could not be more different from the fictitious autobiography he sold to Hollywood. Self-proclaimed as "the world's greatest con man," the true dimensions of Abagnale's hoax are revealed for the first time in this dramatic true story.

A shocking new reality emerges through the voices of victims, their families, and others who have seen the truth concealed by decades of deception. Their stories are now exquisitely woven into a tapestry of hard evidence and insights from his former manager, Mark Zinder. The result is a fast-paced drama filled with heroes, villains, mystery and intrigue, answered with unquestionable facts and official records-all definitively disproving Abagnale's longstanding claims of roaming the world as a "teenage millionaire imposter" and working for the District Attorney in Baton Rouge.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Biography

471 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2020

Reviews

[Carol Bean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. It starts out engaging and thought provoking with the Frank Abagnale story as an example of public preference for entertainment over reality and media eagerness to accommodate that preference. The hoax is thoroughly exposed and documented, but the telling quickly becomes repetitive editorializing. It seems like this story could have been a great story in itself, and true! The author, however, seems to prefer to preach the point to tedium.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank W. Abagnale’s story has been so widely read and even turned into movies and books. This book will take us behind the scenes, on how Frank was able to pull this all off, the people he duped and even the ones who helped him along willingly. Starting from a young age, Frank Abagnale turned his brilliant mind to manipulating others around him into giving him what he wanted, and making it seem like it was their idea. Think of how often movies cut scenes to fit time constraints and you can imagine just how many plots of Franks are in tis book.
There are no clear winners or losers in this book, and I find the story truly fascinating, even more so than the famous movie “Catch me if you can” from 2002. Very well written and edited, the story moved along quickly, and it was easy to follow along, while still keeping some of the mystery alive in some spots.

[Mark Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank W. Abagnale managed to fool America for more than two decades. Now, Alan C. Logan seeks to unravel the hoaxer’s motives, techniques, and ultimately, why he chose to trick ordinary citizens and the federal government for most of his life. The book reads like most biographies but has flair of fiction and mystery that most biographies lack.

[Julie Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoilers: By now many are familiar with the story of Frank William Abagnale Jr. If they haven't read his autobiography, Catch Me If You Can, they may have seen the 2002 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Abagnale and Tom Hanks or saw the Broadway musical starring Norbert Leo Butz, who won a Tony for his role as Abagnale.
For those that don't know his story, here it is: At 16 years old, Abagnale ran away to escape his divorced parents. On the run, he impersonated a Pan Am pilot, a chief resident at Cobb County General Hospital in Malcotta, Georgia, an attorney for the state attorney general of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a professor at Brigham Young University and cashed over five million dollars in bad checks. He was finally caught before he was 21. He spent one year in a French prison, one year in a Swedish prison, and four years in a US Federal penitentiary. Paroled, he later worked for the FBI on fraud scams and crime prevention. He became a billionaire because of his securities consultation business in which he continues to give tips on how people can avoid fraud scams. His story sounds almost too good to be true and hard to believe that it really happened. Well, Alan C. Logan, author of Your Brain on Nature, The Secret Life of Microbiome, and Self-Styled: Chasing Dr. Robert Vernon Spears, says that there is a reason for that because it never did happen. In fact for over forty years, Abagnale has been selling a story that was an entire hoax.
Logan's book The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can, writes a complete expose that pokes holes into Abagnale's image as a suave con man turned securities expert. It is a very thorough and detailed look that peers into the facts behind a story and cautions the Readers to find the truth before we believe in the appearance.

I myself bought Abagnale's story. I love the movie and still consider it one of my favorite DiCaprio films (second only to Shutter Island) but now I see it as purely a caper film, escapist, fun, and drenched in '60's nostalgia, but no more real than The Usual Suspects, Ocean's Eleven, or To Catch A Thief. A good film but simply fiction.
I have a deeper connection to this story. I met Abagnale once in college. He gave a lecture at the University of Missouri St. Louis and I was a reporter for the student newspaper. I attended his lecture and even got a few minutes alone with him to answer a few questions. Oh, there was nothing salacious or untoward in his behavior. He was very charming and friendly. However, looking back on that incident, there was one thing that should have raised more questions than it did at the time.
I asked him how anyone could have believed him at the time and why none of his employers did a background check. His answer was along the line that "People were more trusting at the time." I remember thinking "That may be true but people then as they are now terrified of lawsuits and I would think that the possibility that their new attorney or surgeon would not have all of his credentials would have entered their minds." As a journalist, I should have trusted my instincts and been more curious and questioning, but I wasn't. I just wrote his lecture as it was, one of the many who played into Abagnale's fantasies and shared it like it was the truth.

Logan's book uses first person accounts from people who knew Abagnale such as his ex-girlfriend, retired flight attendant, Paula Parks and former agent, Mark Zinder. Logan also uses news articles, arrest records, and news articles to make his case against Abagnale and reveal the truth that lies behind the glamorous facade.
In fact, the story that Logan reveals is more of a ploy from a man desperate for attention rather than a skilled con man. Through Logan's words, Abagnale fabricated, exaggerated, and outright lied about his background.
Abagnale's real life crime story began with his arrest for pretty crimes in New York City, even stealing his father's credit card and writing bad checks. After a brief stint in the Navy, he was arrested multiple times in New York City only to be placed back in his parents' custody. Both his parents, Frank Sr. and Paula believed that their son was mentally ill and needed psychiatric help. His mother even stated that he wrote bad checks shortly after he was released in her custody.

Many of the more fantastic aspects of Abagnale's story contain what Logan calls "nuggets of truth" but greatly exaggerated by Abagnale himself. For example he did wear a pilot's uniform, impersonated a pilot, and wrote bad checks. But he mostly walked around the airports and never entered the jump seat. Also, his haul was less than 14,00 total not the millions that he claimed.
One of the more memorable scenes in the movie was when Abagnale interviews a bevy of beautiful woman to selects them as flight attendants for a trip to Europe, but in reality needed them as a distraction to get past FBI agents. According to Abagnale, that really happened and the ladies had a good time in Europe. According to Logan, Abagnale attempted the ruse and less than twelve women arrived but left finding his questions creepy and insulting. Not only that, but Abagnale attempted this stunt in 1970 basing it on a real program that Pan Am discontinued the year before.
Abagnale exaggerated his infamy as well claiming that his crimes as the so-called "Skyway Man" (a term not even coined until the 70's long after Abagnale's criminal career would have ended) were the subject of huge headlines and many articles in the New York Times. Also, that he was on the FBI's Most Wanted List (a a list that is only reserved for violent criminals). Logan's search of the New York Times from that era revealed only one article about Abagnale and that was an account of one of his minor thefts.

Much of Abagnale's more elaborate claims of being a doctor, attorney, and professor were completely impossible because according to police records from 1966-1969, Abagnale was in prison for transportation of a stolen vehicle and larceny by forgery. Not to mention that none of the employees of Cobb County General Hospital, BYU, or the state attorney general's office in Baton Rouge at the time had heard of him. For example, the Cobb County hospital employees said that it was a small hospital and they surely would have remembered Abagnale or the aliases that he used.
Even his subsequent post-criminal career is cause for suspicion. According to Logan's book, the FBI agents that Abagnale claimed that he worked with, one he even said was his boss, admitted that they never knew him. The businesses that Abagnale said that he gave his security advice to said that they paid him and he only told them what most people know.

One of the more provocative claims was that Abagnale insisted that he only stole from banks and large businesses. He said that he never stole from small businesses or individuals and that he paid everyone that he stole from back. In Logan's book, Abagnale's crimes were hardly victimless and he took advantage and stole from many small businesses and people. At the time of Logan's writing, one man in Sweden still insists that Abagnale owes him money for a car that he stole. Abagnale is also reported to have stolen funds and assaulted female counselors at a children's camp in 1972 where he worked as a bus driver.
Among Abagnale's victims were Parks and Zinder. Parks's story in particular is chilling as she described Abagnale stalking her and practically moving in with her parents after only a brief time of them being together. After Abagnale robbed the Parks family, Parks said that she and her parents developed lifelong trust issues and she had PTSD from their encounter.
One of the more interesting courageous moments in the book is in the final chapters when Parks confronted Abagnale one final time after his story hit stage and screen. She tried to remind him who she was and what he did to her. Even though he was rattled, Abagnale continued to deny knowing her and insisted that his story was true. Parks saw Abagnale as "a small man who told his story so often that he believed it."

Zinder's story is also interesting as he got to know Abagnale after his alleged criminal career had ended and he achieved fame for his story, appearing on To Tell The Truth and The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson. Zinder helped Abagnale spread and sell his story while keeping some of the more sordid details out of the public eye, liike the mysterious appearance of a wife after Abagnale played the part of a womanizer in his public appearances in the '70's. (Later the wife, Kelly, became more instrumental from the '80's onward when Abagnale portrayed himself as a family man.).
Zinder also recounted the darker side of his former friend's attitude such as bilking him out of money and Zinder's then wife, Fran, having an uncomfortable private encounter with Abagnale in which she never revealed the full details but had clearly traumatized her. (Long after they parted ways, Zinder reunited with Abagnale who apologized for "that thing with Fran" but never elaborated what it specifically was. As of the publication of the book, he still did not know).

While Logan does a thorough job of exposing Abagnale there is one glaring puzzling aspect to this book. Parks and Zinder are not the only ones who have confronted Abagnale over his claims. An article in the San Francisco Chronicle could not find any truth to his claims and a professor challenged his students to investigate the story. However, at no point has Abagnale ever been sued or formerly charged with deceiving the public for his claims.
The penalty for claiming to be a Federal government employee alone is a federal crime that is punishable with a fine and up to three years in prison. Riane Brownlee was sentenced for three years just for claiming to be an FBI agent on her dating profile last year. Abagnale has been telling this story since 1976-77 and how come not once has the FBI charged him or given him a formal reprimand to say that he never worked with them?
Now Abagnale always insisted that the people that he worked for never mentioned his name to avoid embarrassment. That's his excuse what's Logan's or rather the people who spoke to him? How come in the last 40 plus years that Abagnale spent allegedly lying to the public there isn't a more formal investigation into his claims or he hasn't been charged with fraud, or at least sued by any of his former colleagues or representatives from his former workplaces by faking his connection with them? (Surely, the publicity of ferreting out an imposter who never worked at a place is much better than the humiliation that a 16 year old with no actual experience and training manipulated his way into those fields.) What about the people who paid for his speaking engagement and consultation, why isn't there more of an outcry about his lack of security expertise?
Was Abagnale telling the truth more than Logan wanted to admit? In his dislike for Abagnale and his haste to bury Abagnale not to praise him, did Logan not follow his own research and instincts? Did Logan do the very thing that he accused the public of doing when buying Abagnale's story in the first place? Is Abagnale's story half true and half false and if so which parts? Is Logan believing his own he telling the truth or is he like Abagnale believing his own story?

Well if Logan and his informants are telling the truth and Abagnale really has been deceiving the public all this time, then in an ironic way Frank W. Abagnale Jr. really is the greatest con artist of them all.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liars - What a destructive force in the world. Whether it's an orange-faced con man elected president wrecking havoc on a global level, or the friend or family member who gash holes in the fabric of your personal life, liars are a bane to society. I'm glad when the disinfectant of truth neutralizes them.

In this case, the author analyses an admitted con man who is engaging in a double con. The first con is Frank Abagnale's book, movie and (unbelievably) musical which outlines his allegedly harmless but outrageous and illegal exploits. The second con is Frank's real crimes which are not harmless or cute, but are destructive, cruel and not always well implemented.

This book lays out the case against Frank Abagnale in great detail. It exposes how lazy Hollywood moviemakers, late night television shows, and the news media is. I was left wondering, if something is good copy is it really fact checked? Do the purveyors of content have a responsibility to make sure that what they're presenting is true? Can I believe anything the media presents?

I read and enjoyed the book "Catch Me if You Can." I did feel uncomfortable with the sexist undertone, but attributed it to the pre me-too time when the book was written. After reading this book I feel like I was completely duped. I don't take comfort in knowing I wasn't the only one.

[Joshua Maley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never seen the movie “Catch Me if You Can” nor the Broadway musical. I didn’t really know much about Frank W. Abagnale. What caught my eye was that this book dealt with a man whose claim that he was the world’s greatest con artist was both completely true, and utterly false. Here is a man that sold the country a story, a narrative, and they seem to have bought it all.

Society’s fascination with criminals, its tendency to romanticize them, has often bothered me. As I read this book, I also did some research into the actual public perception of Abagnale. It seems insane to me that this man received such accolades for his dramatic claims of being a criminal. It’s almost as if people can’t separate fact from reality. They become enamored with these stories, not realizing that there was real impact on real people.

I digress. The book presents an honest look at Abagnale’s claims, making no qualms about debunking and disproving a great many of them. It concisely and deftly organizes the doubt about the veracity of the man’s stories and systematically takes them down, proving that while maybe Abagnale may really be the world’s greatest con man, it’s for very different reasons than what he has sold Hollywood and the general public. It was a refreshing exploration of objective truth in a world often very content to believe in comfortable, false truths.

[Debi]

I definitely found it upsetting yet necessary to find out the truth about Abagnale. Honestly, there were portions of the film that never struck me as authentic, but I chalked it up to Hollywood's creative measures to make the story more of a moneymaker. As it turns out, I would love to hear what Spielberg and Hanks and DiCaprio think of the truth...once they learn it.

The writing, however, is disappointing and puzzling. The author has credentials, yet the story is organized in a strange manner and many sentences are constructed oddly. For example, page 151 features these sentences: "Mark was unaware that Frank William Abagnale had been married the whole time. Actually, since late 1976, or that he already had children." The editor also failed to notice and repair quoted material like this error on page 153: "The New York scene, it's [sic] commute, record crime, and the daily grind wasn't for me."

All in all, I don't think I will be including this film in my course anymore. The truth needs to be heard, but the writing makes it a challenge to pay close and sustained attention.

[Jibraun · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The author provides a detailed takedown of all the lies told by Frank Abagnale Jr. regarding his false tales of larger-than-life scams. Abagnale is a scumbag, not just for his lies about his scams but his actual scams that he did pull off, and the author proves that through and through. But this book needed an editor. The author fails to put the story in chronological order, even though it would make complete sense to do so. And the story becomes prolix and repetitive as it goes along -- causing the reader to lose attention. This is a 446 page book that could've been condensed to 350 pages chronologically and would've been significantly better.

[Rosa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repetitive so I can only give a two star rating. However, great story.

[Holly S · Rating 3 out of 5]

A convincing argument that Frank William Abagnale, Jr. is a liar, thief, and con artist. Could have been written in 300 pages instead of 450.

[Wendy Beckman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can by Alan C. Logan, Paula Parks, and Mark Zinder, is a fascinating read. The book depicts the life and lies of Frank William Abagnale, Jr., the focus of the movie, "Catch Me if You Can," which is described as "an American biographical crime film" directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. It should be labelled "fiction" based on the hallucinations of a crook, not biography. Unbelievably, the movie then became a Broadway musical called "Catch." What is really unbelievable, but is detailed and confirmed by Logan, is that so many people fell for this hoaxster's real-life song and dance.

Most people have heard or heard of Abagnale by his claims to having been a con artist but is now totally reformed. It reminded me of how many times we have seen celebrities interviewed on celebrity talk shows claiming to be in recovery from drugs or alcohol — while being under the influence during the interview.

The research evident in the book is incredible. It almost gets painful to read, both for the crimes committed by this fraud and for the amount of text it takes to slog through it all.

Logan is from Belfast, in Northern Ireland, but his European upbringing slips through in only a couple of places in phrases like "in hospital" or "to university." He also gets confused with "lay" vs. "lie" and "inferred vs. implied," and how many accents in "resume" (two or none).

Logan spices up his text with quotes from current and historic (going back six centuries sometimes) sources. (My favorite one was from Ralph Keyes, a friend of mine, and author of The Post-Truth Era: Dishonesty and Deception in Contemporary Life.)

The best chapter is the last, in which Logan considers where we are now in this "post-truth era." (Not mentioning anyone specifically.) For example: "Being awake is the first step toward change. Recognizing the implications of the post-truth crisis is important for meaningful change to begin—be this by calling out specific cases of deliberate deception and injustice, or shedding light on the wider societal implications of allowing misinformation to go unchallenged. The role of an honest media is more crucial than ever. Their power to shape, and reshape, the narrative of our reality is unparalleled. Media power has shifted from broadcast news to a much larger online universe. Amid the noise of social media, the need for clarity and truth is even greater."

And this: "Those who are perceived to be more powerful are also assumed to be more moral. It is assumed that those who have made their way into powerful positions are generally deserving of their status. When a public figure betrays the public trust on national television, telling what turn out to be atrocious lies, the subsequent discovery of these falsehoods sends a message through society. It says lying is normative. It says, “Hey, it’s the way we’ve become, everybody’s doing it.” Mere signals of virtue become more important than facts."

And finally this: "Research reveals that liars prefer to embed their lies into a mixed bag of otherwise truthful statements. We need to be educated at an early age on how that works. At this vulnerable time, with so many grand challenges, the importance of separating fiction from fact has never been higher. Understanding the ways and means by which grandiose narcissists and authoritarians disrupt well-being at community, institutional, national and planetary levels—how they spread lies and hoaxes—is an urgent mission....Ignorance is not bliss. It is a lesser state of being. Especially if it has been created through propaganda and deliberate deception to limit us. Awareness restores power—the power of choice. We cannot change what we cannot see."

Logan's book needs to be mentioned in the same breath that Spielberg's movie is. No disrespect to DiCaprio, Hanks, or Spielberg, but that movie needs to be lost in a Hollywood vault somewhere after being labelled "toxic waste."

[Andrew Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alan C. Logan’s The Greatest Hoax on Earth is a journalistic examination of the life of Frank Abagnale, the infamous con man immortalized in Steven Spielberg’s 2002 file Catch Me if You Can. That film, based on Abagnale’s autobiography of the same name, portrays a smooth charmer living a life of glamour and adventure.

The young Abegnale cons his way onto free flights around the world with beautiful women in tow. When he needs money, the master forger simply cuts himself a check at the expense of some international corporation so huge it will never notice the missing cash. When he needs a job, he becomes a doctor, a lawyer, a university professor. He has no training or experience in any of these fields, but he’s such a convincing impostor that no one notices. Except the FBI, who spends years pursuing him, and whom he repeatedly eludes.

His life on the run, according to Abagnale’s own speeches, lasted from age sixteen to age twenty-one. After that, he reformed. And all of his adventures were harmless larks. He never acted out of malice or for personal gain. He never hurt anyone. He paid back all the money he stole.

That’s his version, anyway.

When Logan does the hard work of trying to verify these tales, he comes up with a very different story. The author talks to a number of people from Abagnale’s past, including his ex-promoter, co-workers, law enforcement officers, and victims of his actual cons, which turn out to be petty and cringeworthy.

Logan digs up damning documentation, including letters written by Abagnale and his parents, police records, court records, prison records, and documents from archives in the US, Sweden, and France.

All of the records show the same thing, that Abagnale was actually in prison during most of the time he claimed to be traveling the world.

Abagnale has made a living for more than forty years as a public speaker, author and subject of film. His talks, books, and movies repeat the tales of exploits that Logan shows could not have been true.

The author’s point is not to take down a beloved public figure, but to expose a larger and more dangerous problem affecting our society. Abagnale just happens to be a perfect case study of how American media and promotional interests conspire to produce and repeat falsehoods.

Abagnale’s story is too entertaining to ignore. It’s exactly the kind of material that plays well on television, in news features, and in in-person TED-style talks. The story’s primary value in current American culture is its ability to draw an audience. Whether it’s true or not is irrelevant.

The making of illusions which flood our experience has become the business of America… demanding more than the world can give us, we require that something can be fabricated to make up for the world’s deficiency. – Daniel J. Boorstin, The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America

Logan points out that over the years dating back to 1978, a number of journalists and at least one university professor exposed Abagnale’s lies point by point, with evidence. And all to no effect. Why?

Because the romantic, exciting version of the story is more appealing than the true one. It’s the version audiences prefer, so it’s the one repeated by all the institutions whose survival depends on pleasing audiences. Logan shows, step by step, how the repetition of Abagnale’s story–without critical examination or even basic fact checking–progresses from local to national newspapers, from minor TV shows to major ones, from book to film. Each time the story is repeated, its credibility increases. Surely, if major news outlets and publishers and film studios are all telling the same tale, it must be true.

The media’s repetition of falsehood, and the public’s willingness to accept it, are systemic problems that threaten society itself by destroying both truth and public trust. In Frank Abagnale, Logan has chosen a fascinating subject to illustrate how the media deceives a public eager to be deceived. Abagnale is impossible to ignore even when you know he’s lying.

If you like true crime, good journalism, or just a good yarn about a slippery character, you’ll find this an engaging and entertaining read. If you like to think on a deeper level about the state of our society, you’ll find it deeply concerning.

[Chris Jaffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an annoyingly written book - but one I definitely respect.

It's about Frank Abagnale Jr. - or really, about the people he victimized. Abagnale was made famous by the Steven Spielberg film about his life, "Catch Me If You Can" where Leonardo DiCaprio played him. It's a very entertaining movie, and while I'd always figured that the film took it's liberties, and that the con man embellished his own story some, I figured there was at least the core of a true story.

Nope.

His whole story is dang near complete, utter horseshit. That late-teens crime run of millions of dollars in bad check writing whree he always stayed one step ahead of the authorities? Sorry, but in reality in those years he was in jail in New York for two-bit frauds that were easily detected. He finally got out in his early 20s and did start doing some cons, such as pretending to be an airline pilot - but people were often on to him soon enough. When he'd charm his way into someone's life, he'd then steal from them (contradicting his myth that he only took from big businesses that could afford it). He'd get lucky with his judges or his sentencing, then skip town - only to get nailed again. He kept going in and out of jail. He wrote about a dozen bad checks from Pan Am totaling around $2,000 - not the millions he's long since claimed.

In the mid-1970s, he reinvented himself as a reformed con man, and started telling the story that became the movie. It's a legal con - and easily his most successful one of all. But he's never seemed trouble about the fact that he ripped people off - normal people, not big faceless corporations. He comes off like a sociopath.

And he comes off like a total creep. Throughout the book, there are stories about him stalking or perving around women. He'll repeatedly stalk a woman. He'll not respect boundaries. For years as a lecturer, he'd do a bit where he'd appear to have a handkerchef in his pocket - only to reveal to the audience that it was actually a pair of women's panties (at which time, the guys would often hoot). When he worked at a summer camp in Texas in the mid-1970s, the women counselors got so sick of his pervy ways, they dumped a bucket of ice water on him, causing him to get extremely bellicose, and then leave - never to return. When he tried to recruit female flight attendants (the basis for the climax of the movie, though it was never anything more than auditions), he personally conducted the medical exams on the young women - despite having no medical know-how. The guy's just a gross lecher.

Among other things, this film makes me pissed off at Steven Spielberg. Did he get so intoxicated with a good story that he didn't care if it was true? It was a good story - but the man's victims were real. Is telling a good story worth it if you make a gross sociopath appear to be a good guy?

That said, the book is often annoying to read. It starts off really overblown with moralizing rhetoric, and ends that way too, as Logan blames Abagnale for our entire post-truth environment. The main narrative is good, though it is repetitive and weirdly organized, constantly going back and forth.

But I'm glad Logan wrote it. I'm glad I read it.

[Brian Aird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyment of Truth

The Greatest Hoax on Earth Catching Truth, While We Can by Allen C. Logan is the back, hidden, and revealing story about Frank Abagnale. As the reader may or may not know, Frank Abagnale is the infamous individual who took on several personas and was able to cloak himself and transform into many professional situations by depicting himself in that particular profession.

As an American security consultant, he eventually traveled down various paths and indulged in a variety of criminal activities. Some of those activities including his various imposter roles, forging checks and embezzling. He probably could be defined as an overall scam artist.

In particular, his actions and ability to fool some people caused a film to be made of his escapades as well as bringing in other streams of revenue due to his actions. It is estimated that his ability as a con man profited this enterprise to the tune of $1 billion.

The movie, "Catch Me if You Can" starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is the public cinematic adaption of Frank Abagnale

This particular narrative is not about his ability to portray himself in a variety of situations and a variety of occupations, but more of the back story about his life. The author sorts through all of the misinformation and falsehoods and particularly records for the reader the actual truth swirling around this individual.

The author makes it clear that it is not about vengeance or retribution but it is writing in the pursuit of complete transparency and truth.

The Greatest Hoax on Earth Catching Truth, While We Can by Allen C. Logan almost be classified as an investigative journalistic piece in which the journalist or the writer goes deeper into and beyond the incredible surface story of this individual.

In delving deeper and sharing his discoveries, he pens the truth which is a refreshing perspective in a world that seems to gloss over the truth and seek out the sensational. However, that is not to negate the tenure and tone of this writing. Specifically, the author provides a completely engaging narrative that is sure to entertain the reader and keep them involved through the entire journalistic endeavor.

The bottom line is that the Greatest Hoax is both a refreshing and entertaining read with several insights that will help the reader to realize the importance of truth and realize the importance of being more engaged and involved rather than taking everything at face value. Of course, reading the complete story of this famous individual is the power narrative behind the writing.

Adding to the mix of the truthfulness of the writing, the narrative is lively, and will at times elicit an occasional out-loud laugh from the reader as well as being surprised at the way the story unfolds.

[Nicole Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review of The Greatest Hoax on Earth by Nicole Harmon

Title: The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth While We Can
Author: Alan C. Logan
Date of Publish: 2020

Book Blurb: “And this is where our story takes a very different turn from the well-known fable told in the 2002 movie Catch Me If You Can, which also launched its narrative from the set of To Tell the Truth. ” Pg 20

This book is about how one man, Frank Abagnale fooled a nation for years about who he was. It started when he was a teenager and then was arrested. Upon his release, it continued until his second incarceration. By the time of his second release from prison which was by way of escape, Frank had impersonated a doctor, a professor, and an aeroplane pilot.
The people whom he met throughout his impersonations were all considered people he could fool. Except he did seem to have rules about where, and who he performed an impersonation on. Yet, he still hurt them just the same. He wrote a book about himself and what he does. He did it in hopes of protecting people from others out there like him.
Frank did get married to a woman he met previously. The two remained married while raising three children. There are some pictures of the two together.
To date, I have only heard and read about two impersonators. I guess folks don’t like to be fooled.
Analysis
I give this book five stars. First, I have to say that I read this and kept thinking, you will catch on to the fact that he is lying about his credentials or who he knows. But no one seemed to. At least no one like Paula Parker, whom he really did try to have a relationship with. Her parents, however, did let him live there until he was safe on his own. The disappointment the two of them felt when learning what he was- was real.
The surgeon impersonation although extremely scary for some was a necessity for others to be saved. I may be mad that he did it, but the man saved lives.
The impersonation of the Delta Airlines pilot got him access to so many places around the world. It also gave him access to cash to further his false front of a man with cash to burn.
I think Paula Parks although angry did inform her parents what he was, and they didn’t see through him until arrest. I see that he did try to keep up with her afterwards, but she wasn’t interested.
Well written and although I feel the author was slanted to not like the man Abagnale they try to write an unbiased event timeline for others.
I must recommend this book for you and others to read. You will enjoy the book through several sittings to read it.
I bought this book via Amazon.com for the purpose of leaving a review.

[Clued-in With A Book (Elvina Ulrich) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We do not see the minds that we hurt when we publish falsehoods, but that does not mean we do no harm." - Professor Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny (2017)

Ouch! Truth hurts. The truth really hurts after reading this book. Two months ago, I've read Catch Me If You Can and enjoyed it just as much as I loved the movie which I think was one of Leonardo's best movies! It absolutely amazed me how Frank Abagnale, a teenager at that time was able to assume more than eight identities and got away with it - almost unscathed. I mean it had to be true right? No one would dare to make such bold claims.

So when I got an email about this book, a true crime expose on Frank's claims, I knew I had to read it. I have to admit that I went into this book with skepticism but came out with my heart broken, feeling betrayed. A lot of effort was poured into the research of this book as evidenced by the amount of compelling information, witness statements, local reporting, past articles, interviews and photographs.

Frank claimed that his crimes were victimless and he will never take money from individuals and returned all the money he stole. But through these pages, we see the other side of every claims Frank ever made. Paula Park (the retired Delta flight attendant who met Frank), Mark Zinder (Frank's booking agent) and many victims of Frank's shared the awful encounters they had with him.

As I mentioned earlier, there is a lot to unpack in this book. It felt a little overwhelming at times and confusing. But I am so glad that there was a timeline infographic included which compare and contrast verified facts and Frank's claims from 1964 - 1976. It did give a clearer picture.

Overall, this is one heck of a book! Well-written, thoroughly researched and the author backed up the point he made with references that can be checked. Read this book and decide for yourself whose truth do you believe.

"Things are not always as they appear to be - whether on the street, the courthouses, or in corrections, credulity is a dangerous thing."

"Like any good confidence man, he practiced alchemy. He melded truth with fiction and avoided detail." - On Robert Vernon Spears, con man, Self-Styled

[Steven Rosenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Greatest Hoax On Earth Catching Truth, While We Can” by Alan Logan is a story meant to tell the real story of the great hoax referred to in the title, and it does just that amply. This story lays bare the facts surrounding the legend of Frank W. Abagnale, the subject of the book and movie “Catch Me If You Can”. When Catch the movie was released in 2002 I had never heard of Mr. Abagnale or any part of the story. I did see some of the movie’s promotions online and went to see it. I found the story to be interesting and enjoyed the film. I never considered whether or not the story was true, I just found it interesting and enjoyed it at the time and have not thought about it for the past 20 years. Recently I had read some news about the debunking of the story so when I spotted this book I wanted to read it because I liked the movie and the subject matter is very interesting.

As a result of exhaustive research, our author Alan Logan does a very good job in the first few chapters making his case that Mr. Abagnale’s claims about his various adventures simply are not true. He makes a solid case and just as I had no problem believing the story 20 years ago, after this book, I have no problem not believing the story now.

Overall I enjoyed the book, but there are some things that I did not like. As I mentioned Mr. Logan effectively debunks the hoax early on, but he keeps repeating the fact that Abagnale couldn’t have been here doing this because we know at that time he was over there doing some other thing. This is done repeatedly but I got it the first time. Additionally, he criticizes director Steven Spielberg for overlooking some negative facts and timeline inconsistencies. I disagree, Mr.Spielberg made a movie based on a book that is the story that Abagnale invented and propagated for decades. It happens to be a very entertaining story. When I saw the movie all those years ago, I didn’t go to see a documentary, I wanted to see a great story and I did.

If you have an interest in “Catch Me If You Can” or in Frank W. Abagnale and how he pulled off his hoax for so long, I recommend you read this book. Alan Logan has put considerable effort into it and has written a fine story for us. Enjoy!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can is a rigorously researched and deeply unsettling work of investigative nonfiction that dismantles one of the most enduring myths in modern pop culture. Alan C. Logan methodically exposes the fabricated narrative behind Frank W. Abagnale, whose self mythologized persona popularized by books, lectures, and Hollywood has long been accepted as truth.

Rather than relying on conjecture or rhetorical takedown, Logan builds his case through documentation, official records, and firsthand testimony. The inclusion of voices from victims, their families, and individuals directly involved in Abagnale’s professional life transforms the book from a simple debunking into an act of historical correction. The forewords by Paula Parks and Mark Zinder further reinforce the credibility and urgency of the work, particularly Zinder’s perspective as Abagnale’s former manager, which adds rare insider context.

What distinguishes The Greatest Hoax on Earth is its ethical seriousness. Logan does not merely challenge exaggerated claims; he interrogates how deception becomes institutionalized when media, entertainment, and public fascination converge. The book asks difficult questions about accountability why false narratives persist, who benefits from them, and how truth can be eclipsed by charisma and repetition.

Despite its depth and volume of evidence, the narrative remains accessible and compelling. Logan structures the investigation as a progressive unmasking, revealing contradictions and factual impossibilities with clarity and restraint. The result is a work that is both intellectually rigorous and emotionally resonant, particularly in its attention to the long ignored harm suffered by those affected by Abagnale’s deception.

For readers of true crime, biography, and investigative journalism, The Greatest Hoax on Earth is essential reading. It serves not only as a corrective to a widely accepted falsehood, but as a broader warning about the fragility of truth in the face of profitable mythmaking.

[Darryl Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The unbelievable story about one of the greatest deceptions of the modern world. 



I have heard about Frank Abagnale before, as the daring and spectacular con-man, but I did not ever imagine that the whole story is demonstrably a hoax that still continues today, according to the detailed research by the author. Apart from being an impeccably detailed account of the true life and history of Frank Abagnale, the author also describes in fascinating detail how his story is allegedly the result of the manipulation of the media in the modern world for profit and other motives which apparently are not concerned with the truth. This is a revolutionary account about a man who appears to have misled the media about a life that is nowhere near as glamorous as he has claimed, but also about the fact that very few people actually bothered to ascertain from simple details which would have proved this. If anything, Frank Abagnale is able to captivate gullible audiences, but his ability as a conman is apparently abysmal, as he was caught and arrested for most of the minor offenses that he committed. What is extraordinary, is that a simple investigation into the periods of his life, during which he claims he committed these feats, are actually allegedly impossible because he was incarcerated in various penitentiaries for relatively minor fraudulent acts compared to those that he famous for during those times. Unlike most previous publications about his life, this book is backed by voluminous research and references that are comprehensively listed in the end section. In my opinion, the simple fact that the author has clear proof of this, from official records, provides enough proof for his allegations that Frank Abagnale was only a small-time fraudster who could never have committed the acts that he claimed, and that his only accomplishment was his ability to manipulate audiences, the public media, as well the movie industry. 

[Slmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can brings to light the corruption that people may encounter in a world of free-will and choice of belief. Categorized as True Crime, this book is a testament to the realities of deception all around us. Focused on exposing the lies of the self-confessed conman Frank William Abagnale, readers may enjoy a broadening of perception that reminds us to exercise a healthy dose of skepticism. The book’s author, Alan C. Logan, exposes the lies perpetrated by Abagnale in attempt to sensationalize his own fabricated story of being a skillful and seasoned criminal. What interested me most while reading this exposé is how easy people are duped and manipulated into believing everything that they hear. I feel that this book serves as a great modern-day example of how questioning everything in our realities may be of service to us as consumers of information. I appreciated the fact that the book brings up conscious manipulation ushered in by media and hollywood films. As a society, we are being bombarded with influences in many different forms about how to think, live, behave, and even on what to view as value in our lives. This book reminds us that we choose our beliefs and oftentimes, without exploring the underpinning of these ideologies, we are unconsciously allowing ourselves an opportunity to be manipulated and controlled. Would I consider this to be the greatest hoax on Earth? Most certainly not, however the analysis and critique of Abagnale’s story provides a tangible example of how often the biggest hoaxes are pulled over the eyes of the unconscious. This book may serve readers as a wake up call to begin investigating and searching for truth in all instances. It also helps readers better realize the multitude of cover-ups and disillusions being perpetrated on this planet.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Alan C. Logan takes a systematic approach to Frank Abagnale's famous con man life story 'Catch Me If You Can' published in book and movie form. The famous story goes that Abagnale has posed as a pilot, doctor, lawyer, professor and has cashed 2.5 million in faulty checks. No one ever caught him.

Noticing inconsistencies in the story, Logan delves into the past, and the truth that unfolds is incredible.

The Greatest Hoax On Earth is non-fiction by nature but is by no means a dry read. It is enthralling in the secrets it unravels, which are supported by copious sources and references. The author goes back to the 70s to outline the life of Frank Abagnale. It reveals the contradictions between the life Abagnale has portrayed for decades to the one Logan uncovers.

In an attempt to track Abagnale's whereabouts in his youth, the author reached out to people who knew him and the people he damaged. The author met Paula Parks, a Delta flight attendant in the 60s and 70s, who met Abagnale in 1969. Paula Parks still had a treasure trove of pictures and letters from a young Frank Abagnale. Pictures and letters that directly contradict the story from 'Catch Me If You Can.'

The Greatest Hoax On Earth is a compelling read. It is an in-depth attempt to right multiple wrongs committed against innocent people. It also shows how a lie can spiral out of control and become facts and truth. The book reads well and is formatted to map out Abagnale's life.

The Greatest Hoax On Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can is a well-researched investigation into the life of Frank Abagnale. The professional journalistic voice throughout the book focuses on facts and evidence and paints a picture of what actually happened. It's a prime example of why you should not believe everything you hear. No matter how good the story.

[James W · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Greatest Hoax,’ by Alan C. Logan, is a highly entertaining read that seeks to illuminate the many exploits of a truly unforgettable character.

The true story that inspired Stephen Spielberg’s 2002 film ‘Catch Me If You Can,’ ‘The Greatest Hoax’ is the story of one Frank W. Abagnale, otherwise known as the ‘World’s Greatest Conman.’ But rather than merely echoing the narrative of said film, Logan opts to focus on the details behind Abagnale’s ‘greatest hoax,’ which is that Abagnale wasn’t much of a conman at all.

While Logan dutifully explores Abagnale’s story, sifting through all of the previously available evidence (articles, interviews, etc.), this novel’s most remarkable asset just might be its focus on a couple of key players in the con artist’s life. Both flight attendant Paula Parks and agent Mark Zinder offer tantalizing (and frequently unflattering) glimpses into the man behind the legend.

Frank W. Abagnale clearly spent his life manipulating the good intentions of those around him, but Logan makes a pretty compelling case for the man’s ineptitude, instead attributing much of his ‘legend’ to the media-driven hype surrounding his exploits. By ‘pulling back the curtain,’ Logan not only unmasks this “modern-day folk-hero,” he also offers some fascinating insight into the pre-web culture of the mid-1970s.

If you are a fan of the movie ‘Catch Me If You Can,’ then this book is an obvious ‘must-read,’ but Logan’s story is far more than a mere companion piece. Meticulously researched and skillfully executed, ‘The Greatest Hoax’ is a masterful stroke of non-fiction that reads like a top-shelf page-turner—highly recommended.

[kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had so many memorable quotes but there was one line that stuck with me until the end: “…the burden of proof belongs to the skeptics.” It seems quite unremarkable but in this world where false abound and blend amongst truth, to the point when one no longer knows what is real and what is made for clout, skepticism naturally arises. So when one man had risen past skepticism, brick by fabricated brick, to unreachable heights, the burden of proof does belong to those who disbelieve.

And Alan C. Logan took on that challenge.

Armed with well-documented facts and objectivity, he set on to chip away every brick of lies that serve as the foundation of Frank W. Abagnale Jr.’s claim to fame. Taking into account every nook and cranny, this book deftly unmasks and debunks Abagnale’s unbelievable capers and deceits, as well as his very own character.

I might be in the minority who have not watched the film, but even I know of Catch Me if You Can and the fantastical life of the con man who claimed to be a doctor, a pilot, a college professor and a lawyer. Only, as Logan and everyone in this book, would have it all of that were elaborate, well-decorated lies.

The book zeroes in on the smallness of Abagnale’s crimes, as per legal records. This is quite the opposite of the grandeur the con man chronicles in his autobiography. Without a doubt, this book is incredibly detailed in its research and presentation of what actually happened. If there were a couple things I think needs improvement, it would be a bit more structure to the timeline the book had set out and a more balanced pacing.

[Lily A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can" by Irish-born best-selling author Allan C. Logan is an excellent book that displays how the truth can be distorted and the lies dragged on for years as well as the media's role in these misdeeds. The book debunks the inflated story of the self-acclaimed ex-felon Frank Abagnale Jr. as it unveils the facts and fiction of Abagnale's account. Logan's ingenuity is shown beautifully in this book. Further, the writing is wrapped with actual police reports, court documents, and records of Abagnale scam victims like Paula Parks while compounding that with Abagnale's former agent, Mark Zider's account. Logan works at demystifying most of what Abagnale told people of his past life which was hardly vetted.
The author punctiliously takes a step-by-step process of presenting mind-boggling evidence against the 'truth' that is out there and leaves readers to draw their conclusion. Abagnale's story has been retold in newsrooms and performed in a Broadway musical, opening a doorway to his famed story. Very little investigation was done to certify the truth in his account.
This book successfully discredits the information in Abagnale's autobiography "Catch Me If You Can" and paints a grim picture of Abagnale's deception to the masses. One lesson the book teaches is the need for people to find out the truth while examining the said facts that are laid out there.
This was such a great book. The writing is cohesive and immersive as well. It makes one ponder on what more lies lay covered out there and needs valiant people like Logan to peel back the mask.

[Dalyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching Truth, While We Can is a meticulously researched and gripping work of nonfiction that dismantles one of the most enduring myths in modern popular culture. Alan C. Logan delivers a compelling, evidence-driven investigation into the fabricated legend of Frank W. Abagnale, exposing how a carefully constructed lie evolved into a global narrative accepted as truth.

What sets this book apart is its methodical reliance on verifiable records, firsthand testimony, and the voices of those directly affected by the deception. Rather than relying on speculation or sensationalism, Logan builds a clear factual case one that systematically contradicts decades of claims about Abagnale’s supposed exploits as a teenage con artist and government collaborator. The inclusion of insights from former manager Mark Zinder and the testimonies of victims and their families gives the narrative moral gravity and emotional resonance.

The book reads with the momentum of a true crime thriller while maintaining the rigor of investigative journalism. Heroes and villains emerge naturally, not through dramatization, but through documented actions and consequences. In doing so, The Greatest Hoax on Earth becomes more than a debunking it is a cautionary examination of how myths are manufactured, sustained, and protected when entertainment outweighs accountability.

This work will strongly resonate with readers of true crime, investigative nonfiction, media criticism, and biography. It is an essential read for anyone interested in truth, ethics, and the responsibility that comes with storytelling

[Viga Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many non-fiction books are what I would call "dry" i.e. lots of facts and figures...great if your purpose in reading is research...but usually far from enjoyable reading. Such is not the case here. I couldn't put this book down and not just because the great imposter, Frank Abagnale is such an unforgettable character. He couldn't be more interesting if he was the protagonist in a fiction novel. But he lives, breathes and continues to thrive after imprisonment and after deceiving millions of people in all levels of society.

But what makes this non-fiction book so entertaining while being informative is the author's approach to presenting the truth behind Abagnale. His style is a story-telling approach, complete with characters who had the fortune or misfortune to interact with Abagnale. The book is so "alive" as it reveals what really went on behind the scenes and how the law finally caught up with this charlatan. It's actually a fun read though it deals with the many not-so-funny exploits and rip-offs perpetrated by Abagnale.

Over the years, so many tried to expose Abagnale with limited success. Now, through this fascinating book, we finally do see who the true Frank Abagnale who appeared on To Tell the Truth and the Johnny Carson show really is and how he pulled it off. The movie based on Abagnale, "Catch me if you can" fed America's fascination with loveable con-men. This book shows how well, why, and how he fooled everyone thanks to those with the courage to reveal the true story.

[Tripti Kandari · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Alan C. Logan's The Greatest Hoax on Earth, the author painstakingly explores and exposes Frank Abagnale, the celebrity hoaxer of USA, Catch Me If You Can bestseller book hero.

Throughout its 25 chapters, the book traces Frank Abagnale's journey from a petty criminal to the greatest hoax in history. From Mark Zinder, the booking agent and advance man and fellow of Abagnale, to Paula, the Delta Airlines flight attendant, all of the narratives strike the reader incredulously with regard to the brittle laws, the rapacious media, and Abagnale's mighty luck throughout his delusive journey.

A part of the author's analysis involves a questioning of the conscience of the audience, particularly the media, who, apart from just consuming with delight, is also helping spread lies of a hoaxer dressed up in captivating and fascinating heroic stories. As a reader, I believe the book could have been structured differently and better, completing a story first without moving onto the next account or narrative.

A true-crime of a mind-boggling scale, The Greatest Hoax on Earth takes readers through Abagnale's phony versions, explaining how his hoaxes harmed people in different ways, as opposed to his false assertions. People of the era are prompted to see the truth glossed over by sensation-hungry agencies. I would recommend the book to readers who enjoy true-crime novels, but with a real story as strange as fiction.

[Aaron Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catch Me if You Can was among of my favorite movies. I swallowed it hook line and sinker. I'm incredibly grateful to Alan Logan for showing me the truth.

The Greatest Hoax is an impeccably researched and intricately detailed investigation into Abagnale's continuing deception. Every page presents information complete with names, dates, quotes, photos, and references which in many cases refer to primary sources the author obtained from personal and institutional archives. When reaching conclusions, Alan is careful to distinguish speculation from certainty. The evidence he's marshalled to torpedo Catch Me if You Can is so overwhelming that it actually restored my faith in truth itself. Indeed, he skillfully sets his arguments against the context of our "post-truth" era of "alternative facts," mounting a strong defense of objective reality in these strange times.

I felt I had to knock off a star due to excessive repetition (perhaps he felt it was necessary to state each fact three times?) and due to Logan's use, throughout the book, of a strained metaphor between Abagnale and Evel Knievel. The initial comparison was interesting -- both "American hero" showmen replete with bravado and tall tales, but as it continued throughout the book it made less and less sense since Evel performed real stunts whereas Abagnale only told stories.

[Michael Donaghy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book excellently reveals the truth behind the Frank Abagnale story and the major "double con" that he has played on people- the con that he was a master con man. The fact-finding and research are commendable. Also, the achievement of pushing back against the decades old myth and the industry behind it is to be applauded.
However, there are a number of issues with this book.
Firstly, it becomes very repetitive. I think this is because Frank's real story doesn't contain that much real adventure, so the author has to keep going back to the same two sources.
The above issue could have been resolved by addressing the second major issue. There is a sensational story in here: how a convict and compulsive cheat managed to turn his life around, stop being a criminal and construct the story that eventually became the movie, Catch Me If You Can. This is all covered, but the author's strong dislike of Abagnale means that, for example, the myth-creation which led to the movie is covered in just one chapter. I think that it should have been treated more subjectively, with more wow to the story and how he turned it around.
I also happen to think the name is clumsy. The Real Frank Abagnale or something similar would have been punchier. I feel like this is a number one bestseller that could have been, but defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story begins in 1969 when a Delta flight attendant, Paula Parks, realizes that a strange man is following her. She is even further terrified when she realizes he has moved into her parents home in Louisiana and is sleeping in her bed. This unlocks some letters hidden by Paula’s parents that were written by a criminal from jalTi.Frank W. Abagnale’s story has captured and intrigued audiences as a modern day hero but the truth is far from what is proclaimed. The “world’s greatest hoax” is brought to truth in this revealing and dramatic true story. It reveals the very different world of a grown man who is still living in a parole officer’s garage in the 70s after he was caught stealing from children. This is the true story that inspired the Steven Spielberg movie, “Catch Me if You Can”. In this book, the author provides details, compelling and sometimes horrible facts about the compelling case of Frank W. Abagnale and all his manipulations. A fascinating and deeply detailed read. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of this type of crime/drama written in a truthful and insightful manner.