stock here: this is a new one on me. Of course, “they” are out there.
What the “764 group” actually is
764 is not a legitimate organization; it’s the name given to a violent, decentralized online criminal network that law enforcement in the United States and other countries is actively investigating. Authorities describe it as a violent online predator network that groomed and exploited children and teens online.
- It initially formed on platforms like Discord and Telegram and uses gaming platforms and social media to reach minors.
- The name comes from the first three digits of a ZIP code connected to early servers tied to the network.
- Federal prosecutors have labeled parts of the network as part of a “nihilistic violent extremist” enterprise — meaning they see it as a criminal network with violent, exploitative goals rather than a benign social group.
How it targets children
According to court records and law enforcement press releases:
- Members befriend children as young as 8–17 online.
- They use blackmail and coercion — sometimes sextortion — to pressure those children into creating explicit images, engaging in self-harm, or carrying out violent acts.
- They record and share compromising material to further manipulate their victims.
- Investigations have found cases where minors were coerced to physically harm themselves or kill themselves, and law enforcement has tied several suicides and traumatic outcomes to the network’s pressure.
Law enforcement response
- The FBI has issued public safety alerts and opened hundreds of investigations tied to 764 and related predator networks.
- Multiple suspected leaders and members have been arrested and charged with federal crimes related to child sexual exploitation, racketeering, and violent conduct.
- Federal prosecutors describe 764 as a child exploitation enterprise, and some defendants have pled guilty to RICO and CSAM charges connected to it.
What this is not
- 764 is not a school, club, or legitimate youth group.
- It is not a widespread political or social movement with benign intentions.
- It is a criminal predatory network spread across online platforms.
Protection advice (summary of law enforcement guidance)
- Talk with kids about safe internet use and discourage sharing personal info with strangers online.
- Monitor for sudden secretive contacts, changes in mood, or unusual online activity.
- Report any online threats, sexual coercion, or blackmail attempts to the FBI or National Center for Missing & Exploited Children immediately.