The FBI has issued a public service announcement warning about “The Com,” which stands for “The Community.” This is a loosely organized, English-speaking international group made up of multiple linked communities, many of which include underage members who commit crimes online.
Criminal activities involving ‘The Com’
According to the FBI, members of “The Com” are involved in serious cybercriminal activities, including: distributing child sex abuse material, sextortion of minors, swatting, extortion, and crypto thefts. The FBI believes that thousands of people consider themselves current or former members of “The Com.”
According to the FBI, “The Com” has become more advanced and harder to trace in their crimes over the last four years. Members have been using more sophisticated tools and techniques to conceal their identities, taking additional steps to conceal how they move money and engaging in money laundering activities. All of these elements are making it more difficult for law enforcement to catch them.
The FBI calls swatting a key tactic in their playbook — it’s used to support other crimes, such as crypto theft, and draws attention, often serving as a recruit’s first step into the group.
Recruitment of young members
The FBI says “The Com” targets young people on apps and games to recruit new members. They begin by bonding over shared interests, then gradually pull them into criminal activity.
Subgroups within ‘The Com’
The Com is divided into three main subgroups: Hacker Com, In Real Life (IRL) Com, and Extortion Com. Each subgroup has its own focus or specialty, but members often don’t stick to just one group. They might be involved in multiple types of criminal activities and maintain connections across different subgroups if it helps them.
FBI’s advice for online safety
The FBI is warning people to be cautious about what they share online, particularly personal information, photos or videos on social media, dating apps or other websites. Even things that seem harmless can be used by criminals to exploit you or target you for scams, hacking, or other crimes.
Parents or guardians should keep a close eye on what kids are doing online, including the websites they visit, the people they interact with, and the content they share. They should also talk openly with their children about the dangers of interacting with strangers online, so they understand the risks and know how to stay safe.
