Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robbie Manson of the FBI Dallas field office used a short video posted yesterday to warn that violent online networks known as “764” are increasingly targeting children and teens on social media and in multiplayer games. He said these groups groom young users, then pressure them into creating graphic self‑harm or sexual content that can later be weaponized as blackmail. The Dallas office urged anyone who believes they have been targeted, or who has information about these networks, to contact law enforcement right away.
FBI Dallas Outlines the Threat
In a Facebook reel posted by the FBI Dallas field office, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robbie Manson explains that members of violent online networks, often identified by the number “764,” first befriend minors on public platforms, then shift conversations into private chats where the coercion and abuse escalate, according to FBI Dallas. He urges potential victims to preserve messages, screenshots and other digital traces that can help investigators track down suspects. The brief video is part of a broader push by field offices across the country to educate families about how these groups operate.
FBI National Alert: How the Networks Operate
The bureau has issued a public service announcement describing a sharp rise in activity by 764 and similar violent online networks and warning that these groups methodically target and exploit minors on public platforms and messaging apps, according to the FBI. The alert says offenders commonly rely on threats, doxxing and blackmail to control victims and, in some cases, pressure them into livestreamed self‑harm. It calls on parents, schools and tech companies to preserve evidence when they see potential abuse and to report anything suspicious.
Where 764 Recruits and How It Operates
Researchers and watchdogs say 764 recruitment often starts in gaming communities and public social feeds before moving into private channels. The Anti‑Defamation League reports that offenders typically make first contact on platforms such as Roblox and Minecraft, then steer victims into Discord or Telegram groups, where sextortion, gore‑sharing and other abuse can intensify, according to ADL. In some cases, perpetrators use malware or IP loggers to seize control of accounts and further isolate and intimidate victims.
Federal Response and Prosecutions
Federal authorities have been expanding their response as the networks grow more visible. ABC News reported that the FBI has opened more than 250 investigations tied to 764, and the Department of Justice has announced arrests and criminal charges against alleged leaders in April 2025, according to ABC News and the Justice Department. Prosecutors say the defendants are accused of running a subgroup that coerced victims into creating child sexual abuse material and committing other violent acts.
What Families and Victims Should Do Now
Victims and witnesses are urged to save messages, screenshots and relevant device data, then report what they are seeing. The FBI Dallas field office lists ways to contact agents and encourages people to submit tips through the bureau’s online tipline, according to FBI Dallas. Local agents say fast reporting can help them trace content, identify suspects and locate other victims. If someone is in immediate danger, officials stress that people should call 911 or local law enforcement first.
Parents can reduce risk by tightening privacy settings on apps and game accounts, limiting friend requests to people their children actually know and keeping open, nonjudgmental conversations about what kids are doing and seeing online, guidance experts shared with the Los Angeles Times recommends. The paper also notes that families should preserve evidence and contact resources such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or the FBI when they suspect exploitation, according to the Los Angeles Times. Those steps can make it easier for investigators to intervene quickly.
FBI Dallas says it will keep working with other field offices as investigators pursue 764‑related cases, and other local media and field offices around the country have issued similar public warnings, including a recent Milwaukee advisory highlighted in Hoodline’s coverage of a Milwaukee warning to parents. Officials urge anyone with information to preserve potential evidence and submit a tip to the FBI so agents can follow leads and protect additional victims.
