Conman scored 120 free flights in ‘Catch Me If You Can’-style scam

Florida Man Poses as Flight Attendant to Score Free Flights

A Florida man has been convicted of fraud after pulling off a daring scam reminiscent of the real-life imposter pilot portrayed in the movie “Catch Me If You Can.” Tiron Alexander, 35, managed to secure over 120 free flights by posing as a crew member with at least seven different airlines, according to federal prosecutors.

Alexander’s elaborate scheme involved submitting fake flight attendant credentials, including phony badge numbers, to book free flights between 2018 and 2024. This allowed him to board flights without paying, a privilege usually reserved for pilots and crew members. In total, Alexander went on at least 34 free flights and booked over 120, all without ever being employed by any of the airlines he impersonated.

The fraudster, who previously worked for an airline in Dallas, was never a pilot or flight attendant for the company. Despite this, he managed to exploit loopholes in the system to pull off his audacious con. Alexander now faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and entering secure airport areas under false pretenses. His sentencing is scheduled for August 25.

In a bizarre twist of fate, Alexander’s scheme mirrors the exploits of Frank Abagnale, Jr., the real-life conman who inspired the movie “Catch Me If You Can.” Abagnale famously impersonated a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer before being caught in 1970. Unlike Alexander, Abagnale eventually turned his expertise in fraud into a career working with the FBI.

The case of Tiron Alexander serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of identity theft and the lengths some individuals will go to exploit vulnerabilities in the system. As authorities continue to crack down on fraudulent activities, it’s clear that the legacy of con artists like Frank Abagnale, Jr. lives on in the modern age of digital deception.