What To Know About The '764' Online Predator Network And The Federal Crackdown
Department of Justice (DOJ) officials are attempting to crack down on an online predator network known as “764,” as online exploitation of vulnerable groups increases.
This group has proven to be dangerous for many victims, including minors, who are targeted and threatened through forums and gaming platforms. The FBI announced on Feb. 20 that it has prioritized investigations related to the group.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said the group is “producing some of the most sadistic online enticement reports” it has ever seen.
Here’s what we know about the 764 network and the government’s crackdown.
What the Network Does
In March, the FBI warned of a “sharp increase” in activity from 764 and similar networks.
According to the bureau, the networks “methodically target and exploit minors” and others. The groups use threats, blackmail, and other forms of manipulation to coerce or extort victims.
The primary mode of leverage is to force the individual to produce and share acts of self-harm, animal cruelty, explicit sexual acts, and even suicide. The footage can then be circulated among members of the network, which allows for continued extortion and control of victims.
The group has been known to prey on victims as young as 9 years old.
The DOJ refers to 764 as “a network of nihilistic violent extremists who engage in criminal conduct in the United States and abroad, seeking to destroy civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations.”
The mother of a child exploited by a 764 group member told the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that the individual pushed her daughter to cut the member’s screen name into her arm with a razor blade.
The individual then told her she was a “good girl” and that he or she loved her. To the mother’s surprise, her daughter responded, “I love you too!”
“These guys are very scary,” the mother told the organization. “Just the power they have over my daughter is mind blowing. Please help!”
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/what-know-about-764-online-predator-network-and-federal-crackdown
