A former agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned parents about a rise in the number of online predators targeting children on gaming platforms.
Greg Rogers described pedophiles online as being very manipulative individuals who can persuade children to do what they want. The former FBI agent added that predators have gaming platforms as one of their major access points.
Rise in Number of Predators Online
He noted that these criminals take advantage of these platforms and then represent themselves to children. The ex-FBI agent also explained that predators typically create fake identities and target kids, usually without the latter's parents even realizing what was happening.
Rogers said the main issue now is that children normally have access to various types of online platforms, where they are usually unsupervised. The problem is exacerbated during the summer months as the number of cases increases.
The former agent encouraged parents to keep an eye out for various warning signs, including things that their children say to them. These could be things like a "new friend" who wants to meet up or those who want the kids to send pictures of themselves, according to KJZZ14.
While law enforcement authorities are making efforts to catch predators, Rogers noted that a child's home is the first and most powerful line of defense. He said he wants parents to become more involved in what their children are doing online.
This comes as FBI officials said there is growing concern about a loose network filled with violent predators who target teenagers through popular online platforms. They then coerce their targets into escalating sexual and violent behavior.
Coercing Victims To Do Various Acts
The agency said that these criminals push their victims into making graphic pornography, harming family pets, cutting themselves, and even committing suicide. The predators are believed to be part of a network known as "764," ABC News reported.
Members of the group demand victims to send them images and videos, which they then share with fellow 764 colleagues, or use for extortion. The FBI believes that some members also host so-called "watch parties" where other people can watch their victims be tormented live online.
The FBI has opened several investigations looking into 250 individuals who are believed to be affiliated with the network. The agency has been working on the case since at least 2023 and has warned the public about 764.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline received more than 1,300 reports in 2024. These were all connected to groups such as 764 that are responsible for online exploitation, as per The Guardian.
