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Following the FBI’s investigation into a sophisticated criminal network targeting children and teens online, known as “764,” a former FBI agent is offering practical advice for parents to safeguard their children.
Dr. Stephen Boyce, CEO and president of the Cyber Doctor and a former forensic analyst with the FBI, told Fox News Digital that the group emerged around 2021 and has since developed into a global threat.
“The 764 Group is a decentralized network of neo-Nazi, satanic ideology and is tied to a group called the Order of Nine Angels,” said Boyce.
What sets this group apart is its fragmented yet coordinated structure, with members spreading their influence across popular social media and gaming platforms.
A former FBI agent is providing parents with practical tips to keep their children safe. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Parenting Pointers:
Yaron Litwin, the CMO at Canopy Parental Control App, told Fox News Digital that limiting screen time “isn’t enough.”
“It isn’t enough to put screen time limits in place. It isn’t enough to install parental controls. Moms and dads need to be proactive and maintain an open line of dialogue with their kids on online safety topics, and should do their best to enact and enforce household rules, which will at least somewhat neutralize real threats like 764,” he said.
Knowing what apps children are using, who they are communicating with, and monitoring any shifts in behavior can be lifesaving. Parents should keep an eye out for secrecy around online activities, sudden romantic entanglements, unusual meme usage, animal cruelty and any signs of self-harm.
“For instance, newfound displays of irritability, growing secrecy about their device use and suddenly appearing to be socially withdrawn can all be signs of growing exposure to 764 or other dangerous or harmful online groups,” he said. “A sudden loss of interest in their offline lives and constantly seeking privacy can also be suspicious signs.
“If your kid is experiencing signs like these, react with caution and care — not panic.”
