Technology has made the creation of a false check simple. With an off-the-shelf computer and printer, one can create near-perfect replicas of checks. As Abagnale said, where once a forger needed a cool head, quick wit and charming personality, modern criminals can approach a teller looking and acting like a criminal because the false check is so convincing. Reductions in penalties also make forgery appealing to modern criminals. Abagnale said only two percent of counterfeiters are prosecuted. This stems from a perception that fraud is not dangerous. Those that are prosecuted often serve no jail time because jails are overcrowded with more serious offenders. Few cases of fraud are investigated because many banks consider fraud a cost of doing business.
- People:
- Frank Abagnale
- Places:
- Louisiana