The FBI is warning about a global network of violent criminals preying on teens and adolescents through online platforms like Discord, Roblox and Telegram. Authorities say predators convince their victims to self-harm, create graphic pornography and harm family pets.
What is 764?
The cybercriminals are part of a group known as “764.” Investigators say that the network of members extorts victims by coercing them into sending photos and videos of violent or sexual acts while sometimes hosting “watch parties” for its followers.
FBI Assistant Director David Scott said, “We see a lot of bad things, but this is one of the most disturbing things we’re seeing.”
Scott told ABC News that the FBI is now combing through more than 250 investigations with every one of its field offices across the U.S. handling a 764-connected case, with some of the victims involved as young as 9 years old. However, Scott says that’s just the tip of the iceberg, with the department suspecting thousands of victims across the globe.
What are those impacted by 764 saying?
A Connecticut mother who says her teenage daughter was lured in by 764 told ABC News, “It’s very difficult to process, because we didn’t raise her to engage in that kind of activity.” The mother requested that she and her daughter not be identified.
Authorities say 764 can influence from afar, with one instance last year in Vernon, Connecticut, where police arrested a former honor roll student for coordinating with a 764 affiliate overseas as she leveled bomb threats within the community. Investigators say that during a search of her devices, they uncovered pornographic pictures of the girl, photos of her self-mutilating and paying tribute to the group.
What is the goal?
Scott says the main goals of the criminal network is to “sow chaos” and “bring down society.”
The FBI’s Counterterrorism Division and the Department of Justice, as a result of the findings, are now considering 764 and its affiliates as domestic terrorists, calling some of its most notorious actors “nihilistic violent extremists.”
Scott said, “The more gore, the more violence… That raises their stature within the groups. He added, “So it’s sort of a badge of honor within some of these groups to actually do the most harm to victims.”
How many have been arrested?
ABC News reviewed cases across the country linked to 764 and found over the past few years that authorities across the country have arrested more than a dozen people on child pornography or weapons charges.
The Fifth Estate, an in-depth Canadian investigative documentary program, reports that two of the most recent arrests involve men charged with operating 764. Authorities say 20-year-old Prasan Nepal, who goes by the nickname “Trippy” in the group, was apprehended in North Carolina, while 21-year-old U.S. citizen Leonidas Varagiannis, who goes by the nickname “War,” was taken into custody in Greece. The men, who police say were leaders within 764, victimized at least eight minors, with some victims as young as 13.
What are US officials saying?
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement on Wednesday, May 1, “These defendants are accused of orchestrating one of the most heinous online child exploitation enterprises we have ever encountered.”
An arrest affidavit obtained by The Fifth Estate, unsealed last week, reveals that Nepal had been with 764 since it was established in 2020, and took over as the leader of the group in 2021 after its founder, Bradley Capenhead, was arrested by the FBI.
Prior arrest and the group’s founder
Capenhead, who investigators say created the group at 15, named it after his area code in Stephenville, Texas. Capenhead is now serving an 80-year sentence for possession and intent to promote child pornography in 2023.
To become a member, investigators say an initiation is required, which often includes a devotee to share or produce images of child sexual abuse and victims committing self-harm.
Victims are reportedly blackmailed into committing acts of violence and producing pictures of pornography, while threats get more serious. Some have been targeted by a practice known as “swatting,” where a person initiates a fake call to law enforcement, prompting a response from a SWAT unit.
Victims’ families
A Canadian father who says his daughter died by suicide after being victimized by 764 said he continues to be threatened by the group’s members, but says the arrests give him “hope” that parents and police will become more aware of the group’s actions, and spot warning signs before it’s too late.
As for the mother from Connecticut, she says her daughter worked with investigators, and the case against her is nearly over while she recovers. She told ABC News that her daughter is “back to having friends, back to attending activities.” But she notes that her daughter is “not quite back to where she was when it all began.”
Messaging platforms’ responses
A Discord spokesperson called 764’s exploitation of teens using its platform “an industry-wide issue” and the “horrific actions of 764 have no place in Discord or in society.” Roblox also responded to the report, saying it is committed to providing secure and safe environments for users. Both platforms have stated that they’ve employed safeguards to remove dangerous content and ban practices that harm children.
Warning signs
Investigators, meanwhile, warn parents to watch out for warning signs, such as changes in clothing. An example given is teens wearing long-sleeved shirts during the summer, potentially in an effort to hide self-harm cuts or other injuries. Law enforcement also urges parents to monitor teens’ online behavior and use.
