FBI says this Texas-born group targets children. Here’s what to know about ‘764’
The FBI is warning North Texas parents about a violent online network that targets children.
Known as “764,” the Texas-born group was recently labeled a national security threat by federal authorities. Investigators say members often use social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps to identify and contact potential victims.
The FBI is urging parents to learn how the network operates and recognize warning signs that a child may be at risk.
Here’s what to know.
What is ‘764’?
Federal authorities describe 764 as a decentralized online network involved in “nihilistic violent extremism.”
The network originated in Stephenville, Texas, about 78 miles southwest of Fort Worth, and takes its name from the first three digits of the city’s 76401 ZIP code.
It was created by Bradley Chance Cadenhead, a 15-year-old teenager who later pleaded guilty to child exploitation charges and was sentenced to 80 years in federal prison.
According to the FBI, members of 764 have been linked to grooming minors for self-harm, animal cruelty and other exploitative acts.
Nihilistic violent extremism is an ideology built around a “desire to sow chaos and bring about the destruction of society,” accoridng to the FBI.
How does 764 target children online?
Federal investigators say many of the group’s interactions begin on online gaming platforms and social media sites that are popular with teenagers.
Members often pose as friends, build trust with victims and gain access to personal information.
In an open letter, FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joe Rothrock described how those relationships can escalate.
“These networks use the trust they initially build to manipulate victims into harming themselves or others,” Rothrock wrote. “They coerce victims into sharing personal information and explicit pictures and videos, which are then used to blackmail their victims into creating more content depicting escalating sexual and violent behavior.”
Rothrock said members of the network may also livestream that content and threaten to release images or videos to family members or publicly online when victims refuse to comply.
The FBI has also warned that networks such as 764 can operate across multiple platforms at once, making it easier for offenders to contact children, build trust and continue communicating, even if one account is blocked or removed.
What warning signs should I watch for if I suspect a child is being targeted?
The FBI says children who are being targeted online may show sudden changes in their behavior or online habits.
Warning signs can include becoming secretive about online activity, withdrawing from family and friends or becoming unusually upset after using a phone, computer or gaming platform.
Parents also should pay attention to unexplained gifts, money transfers, gaming currency or requests to keep online relationships secret. According to the FBI, some victims may also show signs of anxiety, depression, self-harm or other behavioral changes.
The agency recommends talking regularly about online safety and encouraging them to report uncomfortable interactions.
If you believe a child is being targeted, the FBI recommends saving messages, usernames, and photos instead of deleting them as it could help investigators identify offenders.
Anyone who suspects a child is being exploited online can submit a report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.
