The book is the autobiography of Frank Abagnale Jr., who was one of the most famous con-artists in the 20th Century. It is written in the first person and describes how he cashed $2.5 million worth of bad checks. He assumed various jobs, such as pretending to be a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and a teacher. Abagnale was eventually caught by FBI Agent Carl Hanratty, who had chased him the whole way, while living in France and served around 5 years in prison - 6 months in France, 6 months in Sweden and 4 years in the United States of a 13 and a half year sentence. The book ends with Abagnale using his skills to train banks and police officers about security.