A US soldier has been caught trying to defraud one of the world's richest men.

Federal investigators allege Brandon Lee Price changed the address on a bank account held by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, then had a debit card sent to his home so he could use it for payments on an Armed Forces Bank account and personal expenses.

Price was absent without leave at the time.

Price called Citibank in January and changed the address on an account held by Mr Allen from Seattle to Pittsburgh, then called back three days later to say he had lost his debit card and asked for a new one to be sent to him.

The card was used to attempt a 15,000 dollar transaction and to make a 658.81 dollar payment on the Armed Forces Bank loan account the day it was activated. Surveillance footage captured Price trying to make purchases at a video game store and a dollar store.

Investigators found Price was listed as absent without leave from the Army and wanted as a deserter. He was arrested March 2 and ordered detained until April 2 unless the Army takes him into custody.

Mr Allen made the bulk of his fortune founding Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975. He left the company in 1983. He is the founder and chairman of Vulcan, the company that manages his business and charitable undertakings. Forbes estimates his net worth at 14.2 billion dollars.