5 of the most famous con artists, whose lives made a movie

There are people who all his life selflessly and work hard, but never have time to enjoy financial independence. And there are those who prefer to cheat and gamble, while receiving large sums. And enthusiasm of these people are often so great that they are able to achieve great success in your case, famous throughout the world as the most prominent scams.

Of course, a violation of the law usually punishable, but some time people which will be discussed in our article, really were at the top!

Frank William Abigail — now the American expert in the field of documentary security, which has become famous throughout the world for his bold crimes committed in the 1960-ies. If you watched the movie "Catch me if you can" with Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role, you'll probably understand what was going on. For those who have not watched, will tell a brief story of success and defeat Abignale.

One day a young man decided that it would be nice to become a pilot... of Course, to be trained and special training Frank did not, and went to the supply Department of the airline, Pan American and convinced the officers that he was a young pilot, the company, which were stolen. Don't know how he did it, but we believe in the legend!

Thanks Frank flew at the company's expense in excess of 1.000.000 miles in more than 250 flights to 26 countries of the world, rested in the best hotels (as on the rights of the pilot he could use the services of the hotels free) and cashed a large number of bogus checks, which was the emblem of the airline. Only the position of the pilot Abigail "worked" for two years.

Another year this genius cheat skillfully pretended to be the chief pediatrician at a hospital in Georgia, eight months was a lawyer and worked under the Prosecutor General, within one semester taught the discipline of sociology at the University Brigham young... a total of try 8 professions in only 5 years!

In the 1969 Abigail detained in France. After the arrest of fraud from 12 countries demanded his extradition for offenses committed on their territory the crime. Frank spent six months in France, then another six months in Sweden and four years in the United States. Abagnale was released early because he agreed to cooperate with the FBI. Now ex-con artist works as an expert in the field of documentary safety and is the official millionaire.

Jordan Ross Belfort is a famous American speaker, motivator, who in 1987 founded one of the largest brokerage firms in the world, but 10 years later was convicted of money laundering and a number of other financial crimes.

During his fraud on wall street, Belfort was leading an idle life, he was a regular at parties, drinking and drugs, and even become dependent on methaqualone (a powerful sedative and hypnotic, is banned for use in some countries).

Fortunately, the Belfort managed to cope with all this. After leaving prison, he took legal business and has written several books about his life. They were the inspiration for Martin Scorsese when he worked on the film "the Wolf of wall street" with Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role.

Nick Leeson, the trader senior branch of the Bank of England "Barings" in Singapore and at first glance unremarkable man with an ordinary biography. However, in 1995 the name of Leeson thundered to the whole world. Then, because it is very risky and unauthorized transactions with futures on the Japanese stock exchange Nikkei he brought the Bank "Barings" to complete bankruptcy.

The losses of financial institutions amounted to 1.3 billion dollars, which is twice its equity. Therefore, one of the oldest banks in the world, in which were kept the money Queen Elizabeth, had to sell for a symbolic sum of 1 pound, the Dutch Bank ING.

When Leeson realized what happened, he left the Bank with a note saying "sorry" and tried to escape to his home in Britain. On the way he was detained and returned to Singapore. In the end, Leeson was convicted and sentenced to 6 years and 6 months imprisonment — of which he served four years.

During detention I got sick and had recovered from cancer (the government of Singapore has taken care to ensure that his surgery best doctors), freed has written several books and for some time held the position of CEO of Irish football club "Galway United".

The book Leeson "I bankrupted "Bearings". Confessions of a trader fraud" made the film "Crook" with Ewan McGregor in the title role.

Joseph whale, nicknamed the Yellow kid (Yellow Kid) — one of the most famous scams USA, who began his career working as a waiter in the base saloon, but he soon discovered his talent of a different kind... throughout his life (and he lived wale enviable 100 years!) he deceived people the most cunning and subtle ways.

For example, one whale was organized by real estate development company "Michigan Elysium", and bought the swamp on lake Michigan (when the coast was a place of rest all the rich Chicago), and created for him a reputation as a "great place". Luxury office hung a panoramic photo collage, on which was depicted a yacht club, Golf course, swimming pools, hunting land and other non-existent sights, supposedly located in the swamp.

The richest and most respectable its customers whale, as a friend offered to become members of the exclusive club and build on this rich site absolutely for free! The only thing required is to go to a special office, and quickly to prepare all the documents for $ 300.

During the month Joe every day presented and designed, presented and designed... Until one of the clients do not have any desire to see the wonder station. Already the same night the company "Michigan Elysium" have disappeared into thin air, and its founder went to Paris to celebrate his triumph.

Among other famous frauds Wale: sale stray dogs (income is about 2 thousand dollars per day), fictitious Bank (income Scam 400 thousand dollars), selling non-existent mines (income Scam about $ 2 million). By the way, the right to develop one of these mines whale has sold himself Benito Mussolini.

Because he never cheated the poor people and make money solely on the rich, Joe called "Robin hood Scam". It is noteworthy that nothing else in his life, wale was not engaged, and when in the 100 years he was asked if he would like to pull another Scam, he replied: "I dream about it, like a hungry dog on the marrowbone".

Based on the story of his life for the film "the sting" (1973) with Paul Newman and Robert Redford in the lead roles. Also Joseph wale served as a prototype for one of the main characters of the tape "dirty rotten scoundrels".

The story of an American businessman Bernard Madoff, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NASDAQ stock market, you could see in the movie "the Liar, the great and terrible" with Robert De Niro in the lead role.

The name tape was no accident, because at the time, Madoff managed to create perhaps the largest in the history of the financial pyramid. The number of victims of this Scam was from one to three million people and injured several hundred organizations. The total damage is estimated at 64.8 billion.

Firm Madoff Madoff Investment Securities for many years successfully disguised as an investment Fund. Only in 2008 it was exposed. To be precise, Bernard himself admitted to his sons that his Foundation — "one big lie" in the Ponzi scheme. Sons passed the information to the authorities, and the next day the FBI arrested Madoff and froze his account.

In 2009, the man confessed on all 11 counts, including fraud, money laundering and perjury. For the organization of the financial pyramid Bernard was sentenced to 150 years in prison.