More than 16,600 instances of information and identity theft were reported to the Better Business Bureau last year through its Scam Tracker service, and indications show that trend is growing. 

With those thefts, the size of the monetary losses are rising. An investigator says the increase of AI tools and the dark web are at least partly to blame. BBB Investigator Don O’Brien says the dark web is where much of the stolen information winds up.

How can you protect yourself from identity theft? Secure your personal information. Usernames, passwords, bank accounts and Social Security Numbers are just a few of the personal pieces of information you should be very wary about showing to anyone but fully trusted sources. Monitor your accounts and use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.