FBI probes 350 in violent '764' network
The FBI said it is investigating more than 350 individuals tied to the online '764' network, which the bureau describes as a loose group coercing minors and other vulnerable people into sexual exploitation, self-harm, and violence. The bureau said it is training personnel in all field offices and working with domestic and international partners; earlier this year, two alleged leaders were charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C., and the FBI’s Los Angeles office arrested a suspected member in August.
📌 Key Facts
- FBI confirms more than 350 subjects under investigation related to '764'.
- FBI is providing training to all U.S. field offices and coordinating with foreign and domestic partners.
- U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. charged alleged leaders Leonidas Varagiannis ('War') and Prasan Nepal ('Trippy') in April; both face potential life sentences.
- FBI Los Angeles arrested 27-year-old Dong Hwan Kim in August; charged with possession of child pornography and accused of coercing minors to produce CSAM.
📊 Relevant Data
In the US, 90% of financial sextortion victims are male teens aged 14-17, highlighting a significant gender disparity in this type of online exploitation.
Trends in Financial Sextortion: An investigation of sextortion reports in NCMEC CyberTipline data — Thorn.org
47% of sextortion reports to NCMEC show ties to perpetrators in Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, indicating a significant international component to these crimes.
Trends in Financial Sextortion: An investigation of sextortion reports in NCMEC CyberTipline data — Thorn.org
LGBTQ+ teens in the US experience sexual extortion at a rate of 36%, compared to 18% for non-LGBTQ+ teens, with LGBTQ+ comprising about 19% of the youth population.
Sexual Extortion & Young People — Thorn.org
There are no notable racial differences in the prevalence of sexual extortion among US youth, with rates of 21% for Black, 25% for Hispanic/Latinx, 25% for other POC, and 25% for White youth, reflecting population proportions of approximately 19% Black, 25% Hispanic/Latinx, 9% other POC, and 52% White.
Sexual Extortion & Young People — Thorn.org
Victims of the 764 network are predominantly girls aged 14-17, with some as young as under 10, in contrast to the broader trend of financial sextortion targeting boys.
Using sextortion to groom kids for violence, pain — MissingKids.org
In 2024, NCMEC received more than 1,300 CyberTipline reports related to violent online groups like 764, with 1,000 reports in the first six months of 2025, demonstrating the growing scale of the problem.
Using sextortion to groom kids for violence, pain — MissingKids.org