Overview of the 764 Threat
The 764 network is a nihilistic (rejecting all religious and moral principles in the belief that life is meaningless) violent extremist (NVE) group operating primarily online, known for its involvement in sextortion, child sexual exploitation, and the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The group targets vulnerable minors, coercing them into producing explicit content through manipulation, blackmail, and psychological torment. Members of 764 are rewarded for cruelty, violence, and gore, and the victimization raises their status within the groups. It is a badge of honor. 764 is ideologically linked to accelerationist goals, aiming to destabilize societal structures, including the United States government, by fostering social unrest through extreme violence and exploitation. The network operates on encrypted platforms like Discord and Telegram, using tactics such as grooming, extortion, and swatting to maintain control over victims. The FBI has identified 764 as a significant national threat, with over 250 active investigations across all 55 field offices as of May 2025, targeting victims as young as nine years old. Cases involving or influenced by 764 and other gore groups have been reported throughout Virginia.
Emergence and History of the 764 Threat
The 764 network evolved from CVLT, which operated from 2017 to 2022, initially on platforms like Kik Messenger, Instagram, and later Discord and Telegram. The term "CVLT" does not have a confirmed acronym meaning in official sources, but it is widely understood to be stylized as a reference to the word "cult," reflecting the group’s manipulative and coercive tactics. CVLT was one of the earliest groups to systematically blend child sexual exploitation with extremist ideologies, using grooming and sextortion to coerce minors into producing CSAM and engaging in violent acts. By 2019, 764 emerged as a distinct entity under the leadership of an individual known as “Brad,” adopting CVLT’s tactics but expanding its reach and sophistication. The group’s activities escalated through the early 2020s, with members orchestrating “events” to document exploitation and using swatting to intimidate non-compliant victims.
Associated Groups and Ideology
While 764 is ideologically and operationally tied to the CVLT group, its direct precursor, it shares connections with the Order of Nine Angles (O9A), a militant accelerationist movement with neo-Nazi and Satanic influences. Offshoot groups such as 676, 7997, Court, Kaskar, Harm Nation, Leak Society, KNR, NLM, and H3ll have adopted 764’s operational model, focusing on child exploitation and online harassment. Some 764 members have also claimed partnerships with other extremist groups, such as the Maniac Murder Cult (M.K.U.), a Ukrainian accelerationist group, to promote random acts of violence. These groups use "Lorebooks"—digital collections of CSAM and violent material—as currency to recruit members and maintain status within the network.
Current Outlook and Emerging Trends
The 764 network remains a persistent threat despite significant law enforcement action. The arrests of key figures and the earlier dismantling of CVLT’s leadership have disrupted operations, but the network’s fragmented structure allows offshoots to persist under new names like Harm Nation and Leak Society. Emerging trends include the use of encrypted platforms to evade detection, the creation of “Lorebooks” as digital currency, and partnerships with other extremist groups like M.K.U. to amplify violent ideologies. Swatting remains a common tactic to intimidate victims. The January 2025 federal indictment of CVLT sets a precedent for prosecuting online extremist networks, potentially leading to broader legal actions against 764’s successors. However, the group’s appeal to vulnerable minors and its integration with gaming communities like Roblox pose ongoing challenges.
Tips for Keeping Minors Safe
• There are a variety of messaging, gaming, and video platforms that nihilistic violent extremist groups may utilize. Some examples are Telegram, Roblox, Minecraft, Discord, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitch, TikTok, Stream, SoundCloud, Reddit, YouTube, and Mega.
• The 764 network, also known by various names like COM (The Community), Harm Nation, H3ll, No Lives Matter, Leak Society, CVLT Nation, Kaskar, Sick Fuck Nation, Maniacs Murder Cult, Cult Brotherhood of Blood, and Nefarious Murder Kult, continues to emerge despite law enforcement and social media companies’ efforts to shut down gore groups. Group names continually change, making this list not exhaustive.
• Identifying Possible Victims:
– Signs of self-harm such as cutting, weight fluctuation/anorexia, burn marks
– Changes in appearance - oftentimes victims will cease bathing and/or grooming
– Depression
– Sudden changes in behavior
– Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
– Dropping out of normal activities
– Wearing long sleeve clothing or pants in hot weather
– Isolation
–Worshipping those who have committed mass targeted acts of violence
• Law Enforcement Recommendations:
– Monitor Online Activity: Regularly check your minor’s devices and social media accounts, focusing on platforms like Discord, Telegram, Roblox, and Instagram, where 764 operates. Use parental control tools to limit access to unmoderated chat rooms.
– Educate About Online Risks: Teach minors to recognize grooming tactics, such as strangers posing as peers or offering emotional support, and to never share personal or explicit content online.
– Open Communication: Create a safe space for minors to report uncomfortable online interactions without fear of punishment.
– Warning Signs: Look for signs of distress, such as self-harm, withdrawal, or sudden changes in behavior, which may indicate extortion or manipulation.
– Suspicious Activity: Immediately report any threats, explicit demands, or swatting incidents to the Virginia Fusion Center or (877) 4VA-TIPS and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.
– Devices: Ensure devices have updated security settings and avoid sharing location data or personal information in gaming or social platforms.
Resources
Victims and families affected by 764 or similar networks can access the following resources:
• FBI: Contact the nearest FBI field office or submit a tip at www.fbi.gov/tips or www.ic3.gov for immediate assistance. The FBI’s Counterterrorism Division is actively investigating 764-related cases.
• Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC): Report CSAM or grooming at www.missingkids.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
• Mental Health Services: Seek counseling through school-based programs or organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at www.nami.org or 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) to address trauma from exploitation.
• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Call 1-800-422-4453 for confidential support for victims of abuse or exploitation.
• Take it Down application (anonymously used to aid in removing online content that is being used to victimize) https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/
Sources
• ABC News - FBI has Opened 250 Investigations Tied to Violent Online Network '764' that Preys on Teens - https://abcnews.go.com/US/fbi-opened-250-investigations-tied-violent-online-network/story?id=121480884
• GNET - 764: The Intersection of Terrorism, Violent Extremism, and Child Sexual Exploitation - https://gnet-research.org/2024/01/19/764-the-intersection-of-terrorism-violent-extremism-and-child-sexual-exploitation
• DOJ - Press Release - Leaders of 764 Arrested and Charged for Operating Global Child Exploitation Enterprise - https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/leaders-764-arrested-and-charged-operating-global-child-exploitation-enterprise
• NJ OHSP - No Lives Matter Updates Extremist Messaging and Publishes Tactical Guides - https://www.njohsp.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1430/2
• ISD - ISD Explainers 764 Overviews of Issues, Trends, Narrative, Platforms and Actors - https://www.isdglobal.org/explainers/764/
• FBI - Public Service Announcement -Violent Online Groups Extort Minors to Self-Harm and Produce Child Sexual Abuse Material - https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2023/PSA230912
