The Pretender: How Martin Frankel Fooled The Financial World And Led The Feds On One Of The Most Publicized Manhunts In History

Ellen Pollock

46 ratings by Goodreads

Language: English

Published by Free Press, 2002

0743204158 / 9780743204156

Series: Book 3 of 12 - Wall Street Journal Book

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  • New
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Seller: SZ Global, Toronto, ON, CanadaSZ Global

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How could a two-bit investor, too paralyzed with fear to trade stocks, bilk insurance companies out of $200 million? How could a gawky misfit with an obsessive terror of germs induce a harem of attractive young women to feud over him? How could a recluse from Toledo, Ohio, penetrate the circles of political and financial power in Washington, D.C., and New York City without leaving his house? How could a Jewish guy with a passion for S&M sex persuade the Vatican to go into business with him? And how could he do all this without anybody noticing? Now the whole amazing story of how Martin Frankel pulled off one of the greatest financial scams of the century is revealed by The Wall Street Journal's Ellen Joan Pollock, who was a lead writer on the reporting team that broke story after story as Frankel eluded the FBI's four-month international manhunt. The Pretender chronicles how a bumbling thirty year old used his financial skills to build an intricate Ponzi scheme based on lies and his amazing gift for luring businessmen -- including Democratic powerbroker Robert Strauss -- into his web. Frankel's stolen millions allowed him to transform himself easily from mama's boy to corporate mogul. His creation of a phony Catholic charity drew the interest of priests with close Vatican ties as well as a new group of mysterious business partners. But his attempts to go 'global' proved more challenging and aroused the suspicions of state regulators. Frantic that his empire was about to unravel, Frankel vanished from his multimillion-dollar Greenwich, Connecticut, mansion, leaving behind a mysterious fire, a dozen or so heartbroken women, and some very confused law-enforcement officials. His bizarre scamper through Europe as a fugitive would ultimately climax in a German hotel room. Frankel's world was peopled with desperate businessmen, well-heeled con artists, women looking for love, vindictive husbands, diamond merchants, private eyes -- the whole colorful cast of characters that propelled this fast-moving drama. The Pretender is filled with countless revelations from business associates and former lovers -- many of whom were interviewed for the first time for this book. What finally makes The Pretender so compelling is that it is a snapshot of a peculiar moment in business history. Just as figures like Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken epitomized the deal-crazed eighties, Martin Frankel is the quintessential criminal of the millionaire-a-minute nineties.…

Seller Inventory # 9780743204156

Title
The Pretender: How Martin Frankel Fooled The Financial World And Led The Feds On One Of The Most Publicized Manhunts In History
Author
Ellen Pollock
Publisher
Free Press
Publication year
2002
Condition
New
Binding
Hardcover
Language
English
ISBN 10
0743204158
ISBN 13
9780743204156
Series
Book 3 of 12: Wall Street Journal Book

SZ Global

Toronto, ON, Canada

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At SZ Global, we specialize in sourcing and offering a diverse selection of books across a wide range of categories, including fiction, literature, business, religious works, and more. Our inventory includes both contemporary titles and hard to find editions, carefully selected to meet the needs of readers, collectors, and enthusiasts. We are committed to providing accurate listings, reliable service, and a smooth purchasing experience. All orders are shipped from our Kuwait warehouse, and we take great care in packaging to ensure books arrive in the condition described. Returns are accepted at our designated return address in Toronto, Canada, in accordance with AbeBooks policies. Whether you are expanding your personal collection, searching for a specific title, or simply exploring, SZ Global aims to be a dependable source for quality books.…

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