Notorious “Catch Me If You Can” Imposter, Now Respected Authority, to Discuss Fraud Prevention at HITEC 2010
Frank Abagnale, Jr., one of the world's most respected authorities on the subjects of forgery, embezzlement and secure documents, is slated to discuss fraud prevention at the closing session of the 2010 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®). Abagnale will provide insight into his life as the notorious imposter and fraudster of the 1960s, a story told in the award-winning movie Catch Me If You Can. The presentation is June 24, 2010 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. USA.
“Abagnale is a leading authority on data theft and fraud, which is a prominent menace impacting the businesses of HITEC attendees,” said Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), the producers of HITEC. “His insight alone can save attendees thousands of dollars.”
Between the ages of 16 and 21, Abagnale successfully posed as an airline pilot, an attorney, a college professor and a pediatrician, in addition to cashing $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in every U.S. state and 26 other countries. Apprehended by the French police when he was 21 years old, Abagnale served time in the French, Swedish and U.S. prison systems. After five years, he was released on the condition that he would help the U.S. federal government, without remuneration, by teaching and assisting federal law enforcement agencies.
Abagnale now lectures on fraud prevention and discusses the latest sophisticated white collar crime techniques made easy by technology. He believes that punishment for fraud and recovery of stolen funds are rare, so prevention is the only viable course of action. Associated with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for over 35 years, he often lectures at the FBI Academy and field offices. More than 14,000 institutions use his fraud prevention programs.
HITEC, held June 21-24, is the world's largest hospitality technology exposition and conference. The conference offers attendees a one-stop shop for essential education, access to experts and hospitality technology vendors, networking with top leaders in the industry and the resources to find cost-effective ways to improve company bottom lines. Find complete details at
For more information about HITEC, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at
About HFTP
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), established in 1952, is a hospitality nonprofit association headquartered in Austin, Texas USA with offices in the EU and Middle East. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with an international network of members and stakeholders. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues, and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. HFTP offers expert networks, educational resources, career development programs, research, leadership opportunities and conferences and events. HFTP produces international events throughout the year, including the world's largest hospitality technology tradeshow and conference brand: HITEC. In addition, it oversees the hospitality-specific Pineapplesearch.com® and the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). For more information about HFTP, visit www.hftp.org. For the latest news, visit the HFTP News page at news.hftp.org and the HFTP Connect blog at blog.hftp.org.
Katy Walterscheidt
Communications Specialist
+1 (512) 249-5333 (Ext 27)
HFTP
