Question

#14 activity: the london letter
write a statement to explain which suspect you think is responsible for writing the ransom note, and give three reasons why you chose that particular suspect.

#15 catch me if you can

1. outline the financial troubles that frank abagnale sr. and his family have at the beginning of the movie.
2. keep a running list of each scam that frank abagnale jr. accomplishes, and a brief explanation.

scam

description of how he defrauds people/organizations.

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3. explain how frank abagnale jr. tries to bring happiness to his father again; does it work?

1. on the surface level, it appears that frank abagnale jr. is bad, and carl hanratty (tom hanks) is good. however, describe what underlying problems they both deal with.

Explanation:

For #14 Activity: The London Letter

(Note: Since no suspect details/ransom note evidence is provided, this is a hypothetical framework for the response)

• Identify a suspect by linking handwriting, vocabulary, and motive to the ransom note.

1. Match handwriting quirks (e.g., slant, letter formation) between the suspect's known writing and the ransom note.
2. Point out unique vocabulary or phrasing in the note that the suspect uses regularly.
3. Establish a clear financial/personal motive the suspect has that aligns with the ransom demand.

For #15 Catch Me if You Can

1. Financial Troubles of Frank Abagnale Sr. and Family:

• Frank Sr. loses his business and home due to tax issues and financial mismanagement.
• The family splits up as his wife leaves him, worsening their financial strain, and they struggle to maintain their previous middle-class lifestyle.

1. List of Frank Abagnale Jr.'s Scams:

Scam	Description of how he defrauds people/organizations.
Fake Doctor Scam	Impersonates a pediatrician at a hospital, using forged credentials to get a high-paying job, relying on staff to handle direct patient care while he avoids medical work.
Fake Lawyer Scam	Forges a Harvard Law degree to get a job as a prosecutor, leveraging his charm and quick learning to avoid being caught lacking legal knowledge.
Check Fraud (Banks)	Creates fake checks with high balances, using fake identities to cash them at banks across the country before the checks bounce.
Credit Card Fraud	Creates fake credit card numbers using stolen bank routing data, then uses the cards to make large purchases.

1. Frank Jr.'s Attempt to Help His Father:

Frank Jr. gives his father large sums of cash from his scams, hoping to help him regain his business and win back his wife. It does not work; his father is still unable to fix his financial and personal issues, and eventually dies.

1. Underlying Problems of Frank Jr. and Carl Hanratty:

Both men struggle with loneliness and a lack of stable family connections. Frank Jr. runs scams to fill the void left by his broken family and feel valued. Carl Hanratty is a work-obsessed agent who is isolated from his own family, spending holidays alone chasing Frank, and he grapples with the pressure of his high-stakes job while longing for connection.

Answer:

#14 Activity: The London Letter (Hypothetical Example)

I suspect [Name] wrote the ransom note.

1. Their handwriting matches the note's letter slant.
2. They use the same rare slang as in the note.
3. They owe large debts matching the ransom amount.

#15 Catch Me if You Can

1. Frank Sr. loses his business/home to tax issues; the family splits, facing severe financial hardship.
2. See the completed scam table above.
3. Frank Jr. gives his father scam cash to rebuild his life and reunite the family; it does not work.
4. Both face loneliness and fractured family bonds: Frank Jr. chases validation to fix his broken family, while Carl Hanratty is isolated from his own family, defined only by his job.