Swindler’s list: History's biggest swindlers

The allure of wealth and financial freedom has always been the goal of most people since the dawn of currency. Today, people can accrue money by working, but most people don’t earn enough to get rich, or at least to become rich enough not to worry about their finances. This is why there are swindlers who employ financial scams. People who are always looking for ways to earn money in the easiest and quickest way possible are prime targets for swindlers, and history has several big names to use as examples. Here are some of the biggest swindlers in the country. Steve Sorensen Embezzlement.

Charles Ponzi

Charles Ponzi is the father of the Ponzi scheme. What started as a legitimate business ended up as the foundation of the pyramid scheme. Basically, he used money from new investors to pay his old investors who end up re-investing on his business. At the height of his career, Ponzi was earning one million dollars per day. Steve Sorensen Embezzlement.


Lou Pearlman

Lou Pearlman drove the success of the country’s biggest boybands like the Backstreet Boys and N’Sync. While the entertainment industry was already lucrative, it wasn’t enough for Pearlman as he entered an investment scheme which earned him hundreds of millions of dollars. Steve Sorensen Embezzlement.

Frank Abagnale

Frank Abagnale’s claim to fame is his ability as a fraud. His life was so incredibly dubious that Steven Spielberg made a movie out of it in Catch Me If You Can. As early as 16 years of age, Abagnale already pretended to be a pilot to get free flights. He also pretended to be a lawyer and a doctor as he forged checks and defrauded multiple banks. Abagnale eventually turned his life around and became a consultant for the FBI. Steve Sorensen Embezzlement.

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