Dishwasher 'committed massive net fraud'

Abdullah allegedly used a simple PC to begin his scheme

Detectives in the United States are investigating how a restaurant dishwasher allegedly used his local library computer to swindle millions of dollars from the rich and famous.

Abraham Abdullah, aged 32, is alleged to have used the PC to uncover personal details of household names such as film director Steven Spielberg and chat show host Oprah Winfrey.

Alleged victims

Steven Spielberg

Martha Stewart

Oprah Winfrey

Ross Perot

Warren Buffett

George Lucas

Ted Turner

Investigators claim Mr Abdullah - who denies the charges - then tricked credit reference agencies into giving out celebrities' vital financial details using forged letterheads.

He then apparently used these details to "clone" their identities and move millions of their dollars into bank accounts he had set up and controlled.

His alleged victims are believed to also include Martha Stewart, George Lucas, Ross Perot, Warren Buffett, Ted Turner and Michael Bloomberg.

All appear on the Forbes "400 Richest People in America" list, but police believe he skipped the No1 entry - Bill Gates - fearing he was too well known.

Investigators believe the number of victims could top 200 and fear the total he allegedly stole could run into millions.

Bold scheme

Police say Mr Abdullah attempted to pass himself off as a representative from some of the world's most prestigious financial institutions, including Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs.

Bill Gates: Too well known

Detectives found fake stationery and forged company stamps when they searched his home in New York.

He also apparently set up a voicemail system so credit reference agencies sent messages and faxes which he could pick up on his hi-tech Wap phone.

Police swooped after Merrill Lynch received an e-mail request to transfer $10 million (£6.9 million) from the account of computer tycoon Thomas Siebel to an Australian bank account.

The bank found out Mr Siebel had not requested the transfer and called in Internet fraud detectives from the New York Police Department.

'He's the best'

"He's the best I've ever faced...You rarely run into someone this good," said Detective Michael Fabozzi from the NYPD's Computer Investigation and Technology Unit.

In addition to the Forbes list, police found celebrities home addresses, mobile phone numbers, bank account numbers and details of their mothers' maiden names in Mr Abdullah's car.

He was arrested a month ago after detectives intercepted a package addressed to him containing $25,000 worth of equipment used to manufacture and credit cards.