Stanford investors urged to call FBI hotline

The FBI has appealed for victims of cricket tycoon Sir Allen Stanford's alleged fraud to contact them.

As investigators build a case against the Texan billionaire, they have set up a hotline for investors to call.

The FBI says Sir Allen, 58, had investors in 140 countries. He is accused of cheating up to 50,000 customers out of more than £6billion in a scheme similar to that of New York financier Bernard Madoff.

Expecting a deluge of investors, an FBI spokesman said: "Due to the number of expected responses, you may not hear back from us for several weeks."

The FBI is also setting up a website to keep those who have lost money up to date with the investigation.

Sir Allen, once seen as the saviour of English cricket with a £70million sponsorship deal, has not been charged with any criminal offence but his assets have been seized.

He is also under investigation by the FBI over links to a notorious Mexican drugs cartel.