FORT COLLINS, Colorado – Beet Street hosts the fourth presentation in its Thought Leaders series: Catch Me if You Can with Frank Abagnale, Tuesday, March 10, 7pm at the Lincoln Center.
Abagnale’s outrageous autobiography Catch Me if You Can inspired Steven Spielberg to make the film version of his life starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.
As the creative, scientific and cultural experience clearinghouse for downtown Fort Collins, Beet Street brings Abagnale to town as the fourth speaker in its seven-part Thought Leaders series. The Thought Leaders lineup is designed to “Entertain Your Brain” by bringing dynamic thought leaders to the Fort Collins community to present relevant topics people care about.
Abagnale is on a mission to help protect identities and reduce vulnerabilities in today’s online economy and social networking society. He brings his amazing stories and insider tips to Fort Collins in a powerful presentation.
Between the ages of 16 and 21, Abagnale successfully posed as an airline pilot, doctor, college professor and lawyer, in addition to cashing $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in every state and in 26 foreign countries. 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 work with the federal government, without remuneration, by teaching and assisting federal law enforcement agencies in areas of information security.
Abagnale is one of the world's most respected authorities on forgery, embezzlement and secure documents. For more than 30 years he has advised and worked with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations and government agencies around the globe.
In 2004, Abagnale was selected as the spokesperson for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). 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.
“Abagnale's lecture may be the best one-man show you will ever see,” said actor Tom Hanks. Others who have heard him speak say audiences should prepare to laugh and be outraged as they learn how to protect their identities from the master.
And Colorado State University Computer Information Systems Associate Professor Dan Turk agrees. As a student in Tennessee, Turk heard Abagnale speak in the mid 1980s. Abagnale left a significant impression on Turk, who is now teaching in the CSU College of Business, and encouraging everyone he knows to hear this speaker on March 10 in Fort Collins.
“Abagnale is a master storyteller,” said Turk. “His charisma allowed him to assume countless identities and forge checks as a teenager – and do it convincingly. He now uses this same charm to deliver compelling and sincere messages to help people during a time when identity theft and email scams are rampant.”
Turk is convinced Abagnale will raise awareness that people need to be more vigilant about protecting their identities, and to think twice about the trade-offs when participating in social and professional networking groups through online sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn.
The question-and-answer portion of the presentation on March 10 will give audience members a chance to ask specific questions about social networking implications and recent scams that have made headlines.
“I see more and more people who don’t think twice about sharing everything about themselves on social networking sites,” said Turk. “Abagnale may be the voice of reason to identify the potential pitfalls, and to recommend precautions, so people don’t learn about identity theft the hard way.”
General admission tickets for Catch Me if You Can with Frank Abagnale are $18, VIP seating and meet the speaker tickets are $25, and student tickets – with proof of a valid student ID – are $9. Tickets are available at www.beetstreet.org and (970) 221-6730.