489: Frank Bourassa | The World’s Greatest Counterfeiter Part Two

Cross-border Ops

Frank Bourassa's counterfeiting operation required a sophisticated network to move fake currency across borders. He explains that the market price for counterfeit bills was about 30% of their face value, a figure determined by the criminal networks he was part of 1. Despite the lucrative nature of the business, Bourassa found it challenging to sell counterfeit currency compared to drugs like cocaine, as many smugglers viewed counterfeiting as riskier 1.

Counterfeiting is up there in the same level with murders and kidnapping. So drug dealing is way below.

--- Frank Bourassa

The logistics of these transactions were complex, involving large quantities of paper and cash, far beyond the briefcase exchanges often depicted in media 2.

   

Building Trust

Trust was a cornerstone of Bourassa's counterfeiting network, where reliable relationships were crucial for success. He emphasizes that good criminals, much like good businesspeople, are those who keep their word and work towards the operation's success 3. Bourassa's approach involved giving potential clients samples of his counterfeit bills to test, ensuring they met quality expectations before committing to larger transactions 4.

Good people will gather around good people, will work with good people. And asshles will hang around with asshles.

--- Frank Bourassa

This strategy not only built trust but also demonstrated the quality of his product, which was essential for maintaining a strong network in the high-stakes world of counterfeiting.