Stephen Burroughs 

Stephen Burroughs, born in New Hampshire in 1765, is considered one of the most colorful characters in American history. Despite being one of the least known figures, he wrote and published a memoir that is still in print today.

From a young age, Burroughs displayed signs of deceitfulness, such as stealing watermelons as a boy and then joining the search party to find the thief. As he grew older, his crimes became more serious, including posing as a minister and leading a congregation while passing counterfeit money in Springfield, Mass.

After being arrested and imprisoned in Northampton, Mass., Burroughs set fire to the jail and escaped. Despite several more escapes and run-ins with the police, he eventually served his prison term and moved to Canada, where he led a successful counterfeiting ring.

Despite his criminal activities, Burroughs was known for his generosity and humanitarian efforts. He founded a library, worked as a schoolteacher, and retired from crime to tutor children from wealthy families in Canada. He passed away in 1840.

The Nazis 

During World War II, in addition to committing genocide against Jews, Roma, Catholics, homosexuals, and other marginalized groups, as well as fighting the Allies in Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean, and invading foreign nations, the Nazis also engaged in counterfeiting. This project, known as Operation Bernhard, was led by SS officer Bernhard Kruger. Concentration camp inmates with printing skills were forced to produce counterfeit U.S. dollars and British pound notes at a secret camp in Sachsenhausen. The Nazis successfully produced $650 million in pound notes, equivalent to about $7 billion in today's dollars. The goal of Operation Bernhard was not to make purchases, but rather to introduce enough fake money into the British economy to disrupt inflation. Similar plans were in place for the American economy, but the operation was halted when the Soviets invaded Berlin. Ultimately, the Nazis' defeat in the war put an end to their counterfeiting operation.

Charles Ulrich 

Charles Ulrich was known for his ability to attract women as well as his skill in creating flawless plates for printing counterfeit hundred-dollar bills. In the 1860s, he gained recognition in New York City as a talented engraver of plates used for counterfeiting. Despite his success in crime, Ulrich eventually confessed during a trial in Cincinnati in 1868 and was sentenced to 12 years in a federal penitentiary. He estimated that he had produced around $80,000 worth of fake bills, equivalent to nearly $1.3 million in 2008 dollars.

Ulrich had a history of escaping from prison, including one daring escape where he led police on a chase into Canada, crossing the Niagara River in a small boat to evade capture. However, his downfall came from his weakness for women. He lived as a polygamist, moving from city to city and engaging in multiple relationships simultaneously. When his wife, girlfriend, and another female friend turned on him and reported him to the police, Ulrich's criminal activities were finally brought to an end during his 1868 trial.

 Frank Abagnale 

Frank Abagnale, one of the most daring counterfeiters in history, committed his most prolific crimes in his teens and early twenties. His story was later immortalized in the memoir "Catch Me If You Can," which was adapted into a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks in 2002.

Abagnale was skilled at forging checks and evading federal agents who pursued him. He cashed over $2.5 million in fake checks in all 50 states and 26 countries between the ages of 16 and 21. He also posed as various professionals by forging certificates and diplomas, successfully passing himself off as a physician and lawyer.

Despite being captured by the French police and serving time in multiple countries, Abagnale's quick thinking and calm demeanor in crisis situations helped him avoid prison on several occasions. He eventually became a consultant on fraud and security for both public and private sectors. In one memorable instance, he managed to escape FBI agents by pretending to be one of them and instructing them to continue their raid as he slipped away unnoticed.

The Lavender Hill Mob 

The Lavender Hill Mob, a counterfeiting ring in Great Britain, was known for its cool name and prolific operations. Fronted by Stephen Jory and Kenneth Mainstone, an "old school rogue" and retired printer, the gang began printing fake pounds sterling notes in the early 1990s, with a face value of around 50 million pounds. They also made money by printing fake stamps.

After an accomplice had a run-in with the police, the gang came under scrutiny. Jory, a well-known counterfeiter, was credited with pioneering the knock-off perfume market. Despite their skills, Scotland Yard took down the entire gang in Operation Mermaid. Jory and three others confessed, with Jory receiving an eight-year prison sentence. Mainstone and another accomplice were convicted.

The Bank of England changed the design of its 20-pound note to include more security features as a result of the Mob's activities. Stephen Jory, following in the tradition of Stephen Burroughs, wrote several books about his criminal past, including a bestselling memoir titled "Funny Money". He passed away in 2006.