Every scam has one of these red flags: Ex-con man Frank Abagnale

In the past, con men were able to charm people one-on-one with a nice attire, great vocabulary and a likable personality. While they were captivating in person, modern day con artists are anything but that. They work remotely behind computers and in their pajamas, where it’s easy to take everything without any compassion.

Ex-con man Frank Abagnale, made famous in the movie "Catch Me If You Can," says technology may have changed the ways scammers operate, but it has not changed how scams work. To spot them, there are two red flags that are in almost every scam.

Flag one: Artists will say they need money urgently. Whether it’s money or card information. They often obtain this through a romance scam, where the artists will target those looking for a relationship.

Flag two: Artists will ask for personal information. They will often call or email as a bank fraud agent. By evoking fear into their victims, they can easily obtain the credit card security codes or social security numbers.



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[k.jamescarters]

This guy convinced hollywood he looks like leonardo di caprio. We have no chance against such powers

[whitedove]

When scammers ring I say yeah sure, can you wait one moment? I then go and make a coffee or continue what I'm doing until they get sick of waiting. Great waste of their time. Lowers their scam productivity rate.

[shapedsilver]

I keep getting calls about my car’s extended warranty. All the time. Guys, I don’t have a car

[petyrkowalski]

Bill Gates called me about my Windows update the other day. Such a lovely, helpful man and nice Indian accent.

[EyFmS]

One red flag : The guy calling you is named Frank, says he's from Texas and has some sort of really really thick Indian accent.

[steve]

Scammers also don't want you talking with friends or relatives. Beware of any insistence on secrecy.

[sigvicious]

Whenever I answer a call from an unknown number, I say, in a low, quiet voice, "it's done...but there's blood everywhere". Then hang up.

[unclekevin]

When my mother was alive she used to love meeting and talking to new people. She could keep the Indian scammers on the phone for ages, finding out everything about their families and lives. Then at the end when they think that they have clinched the deal she would say something like, can you call back later and talk to my son. He deals with all my financial matters.

[jacobrobles]

Be able to do crimes so well that the government hires you

[micaonyx]

I always give them "my personal information" haha. I get a pen and paper, then I read off my credit card# only making sure I switch up the numbers. When they put me on hold thinking they have my information they come back and want me to give them the numbers again. Because I wrote it down I give them the same numbers over and over. When I get tired of messing with them I tell them they're nuts if they think I'm going to give some random stranger on the phone my personal information. It's amazing how rude this kind helpful gentleman becomes 🤣

[FreeThoughtCrime]

A guy with a thick Indian accent claiming to be "Kevin in Iowa" choked in the first 10 seconds, when I asked him what time it was. "What time is it in Des Moines, Kevin?" click.

[elendilnz]

I very much enjoy putting a scammer on hold, walking around making noises, coming back saying I won’t be too long now, calling my dog, coming back saying I have to go out and find where my dog has got to, I won’t be long, making movement and door opening noises. Later saying it won’t take me too long to find my card I haven’t got a very good memory being quite elderly, etc., etc., until finally they get it. The more greedy they are, the longer I can waste their time 😁

[TeamCat]

The real irony is that the YouTube shows about scams always have ‘commercials’ that are literal scams. 😳

[MouseDestruction]

The biggest red flag I ever saw was when Microsoft rang me and asked for apple vouchers 😂

[dwightstjohn]

He's missing the ELEPHANT in the room: preying on the vulnerable, often borderline onset dementia, or alzheimers, and the family hasn't spotted the "issue" yet. It's esp. bad with dad's and granddads' that were entrepreneurs all their life, and used to "calling the shots" without consulting the wife, friends, or family. The money is GONE by the time you click somethings happened.

[gigahoe]

There's actually another red flag not covered in this video. I will share this with you for only $200

[stevecharman]

The problem with Frank's advice is that it's common sense and, as we know, way too many people have none.

[RichardsWorld]

He's so good he's been scamming the FBI for 43 years 😀😀😀

[sajateacher]

The best is the Indians calling about “duct cleaning” for my apartment building. I tell them I don’t have any ducks, only chickens.

[velvetbees]

You should also ask yourself, "Why is this person trying to do something nice for me"? If that person is your mom, don't worry. If it's not your mom, be very suspicious.