FBI Boston warns violent online networks are targeting children through gaming, chat and social platforms

A federal warning highlights escalating online coercion of minors across the U.S. and New England

The FBI’s Boston Division issued a public warning on Feb. 19, 2026, saying it has seen a sharp increase in activity by violent online networks that target children and other vulnerable people. The agency said it is investigating more than 350 subjects nationwide tied to networks commonly referred to as “764,” alongside multiple offshoot groups operating under different names, with all FBI field offices participating in related investigations.

Federal authorities described a pattern in which offenders befriend minors on widely used online services — including gaming environments and social platforms with chat and voice features — then move communications into private channels. The FBI Boston warning cited platforms used for initial contact and grooming, including Roblox, Minecraft and Call of Duty, and noted that communications can extend to services such as Discord.

How the coercion typically works

The FBI said these networks use manipulation, threats and extortion to push victims into producing sexually explicit content and other harmful material. In some cases, victims are pressured to engage in escalating acts of self-harm, to harm others, or to record graphic content that can be used to maintain control. The FBI described “sadistic online exploitation” tactics that can include watching or directing live-streamed self-harm, then circulating the resulting material to intensify shame and leverage.

In New England, the FBI said it has seen intimidation tactics such as doxing — the posting of a victim’s personal identifying information — and swatting, in which false emergency reports are used to trigger aggressive police responses at a victim’s home.

Who is being targeted, and who is offending

Federal officials said victims are often underage girls between 10 and 17, though anyone can be targeted. The FBI described vulnerability factors that may include limited support networks and mental health struggles such as depression, eating disorders or suicidal ideation, combined with extensive unsupervised internet access and the belief that the offender is a peer.

While the FBI said some cases are driven by a belief system it calls “nihilistic violent extremism,” it also emphasized that motivations can vary, including sexual gratification, social status, or a desire for belonging. Each investigation is assessed individually to determine whether ideological motives are present.

Warning signs and steps families can take

The FBI urged caregivers and schools to watch for sudden behavioral changes, unexplained injuries, secrecy around devices, signs of self-harm, threats of suicide, and indicators that personal information has been posted online. The agency also cited concerns about animal cruelty and harm to siblings as potential red flags in this specific pattern of coercion.

• Monitor online contacts and use parental controls where available
• Preserve messages, usernames, images and other communications as potential evidence
• Use reputable reporting channels, including the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for suspected online exploitation
• Seek removal support for explicit images of minors through established child-safety services such as NCMEC’s Take It Down program

If there is an immediate, life-threatening emergency, call 911.