Cybersecurity expert Frank Abagnale says education ‘most powerful’ crimefighting tool

FRANK ABAGNALE, a former con artist that transformed into a famous and respected fraud detection cybersecurity consultant, returned to the Newsmakers: Lesher Speaker Series on Sept. 30 and spent much of the evening educating the eager crowd with his in-depth knowledge about cybercrime, forgery and scams.

Abagnale told the audience at the Lesher Center for the Arts’ Hofmann Theatre in Walnut Creek that his goal was to inform the public, as he asserts that prevention, verification and education are the best ways to protect privacy and avoid being a victim of cyberfraud.

“Education is the most powerful tool to fighting crime,” Abagnale said simply. “If I can explain to you how the scam works, and you understand the scam, then you will not fall victim to that scam.”

As part of the Newsmakers: Lesher Speaker Series 20th anniversary, a local nonprofit is featured at each event. For Abagnale’s appearance, the focus was Contra Costa Senior Legal Services, which has been providing free legal services to seniors and helping protect elders’ rights since 1976.