The stormover identity theft reached new heights this week after HSBC bank and LexisNexis revealed that criminals may have stolen personal and financial data belonging to almost half a million Americans.

The announcements, detailing the latest in a string of security breaches in which information has been stolen from data brokers, banks and retailers, appeared to stiffen the resolve of US legislators to push for laws to combat identity theft, which has emerged as the fastest-growing crime in the US.