Child exploitation network
Criminal organization
764 Founded 2019 (as CVLT) 2021 (as 764) Founder Bradley "Felix" Cadenhead (764) Named after ZIP Code for StephenvilleFounding location Stephenville, Texas , United States (CVLT allegedly founded in France)Years active 2019–present Territory United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, Romania, Brazil, Spain Activities Sextortion , cybercrime , child sexual exploitation , assault , kidnapping , murder
764 (previously CVLT and a subgroup of "the com ")[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] is a decentralized and transnational sextortion network that is reportedly adjacent to the Order of Nine Angles , a right-wing Satanist terror network.[ 5] It is classified as a terror network by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), and is considered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a "tier one" terrorist threat.[ 6] The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) also classifies 764 as an "ideological violent extremist network", and it has been characterized as a "satanic neo-Nazi cult " by multiple sources.[ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10]
764 was founded in 2021 by Bradley Cadenhead, a teenager from Stephenville, Texas ; the group derives its name from the town's ZIP Code .[ 11] [ 1] [ 12] The network is most present on Discord and Telegram and usually targets children aged 8 to 17, particularly marginalized children or those suffering from mental health challenges.[ 13] [ 14] [ 15] Victims are often forced to commit recorded acts of self-harm to disseminate internally or share on social media platforms,[ 16] [ 5] asked to carve names on their skin as "cutsigns", a form of branding to show their subjugation to the group,[ 10] [ 17] [ 14] and given the end goal of committing suicide on livestream for the network's entertainment or for the perpetrator's own sense of fame within the network.[ 18] [ 19]
^ a b Winston, Ali. "There Are Dark Corners of the Internet. Then There's 764" . Wired . ISSN 1059-1028 . Retrieved 2024-11-17 . the com/764 extortion network.
^ Whitaker, Bill (2024-08-11). "Cybersecurity investigators worry ransomware attacks may worsen as young, Western hackers work with Russians - CBS News" . www.cbsnews.com . Retrieved 2025-02-08 .
^ Otto, Greg (2024-12-13). "Arizona man arrested for alleged involvement in violent online terror networks" . CyberScoop . Retrieved 2025-02-08 .
^ Otto, Greg (2024-12-05). "Exclusive: Feds are probing 764, The Com's use of cybercriminal tactics to carry out violent crimes" . CyberScoop . Retrieved 2025-02-08 .
^ a b Argentino, Marc-André; Gay, Barrett; Tyler, M.B. (2024-01-19). "764: The Intersection of Terrorism, Violent Extremism, and Child Sexual Exploitation" . GNET . Retrieved 2024-11-17 .
^ Belanger, Ashley (2024-11-08). "Discord terrorist known as "Rabid" gets 30 years for preying on kids" . Ars Technica . Retrieved 2024-11-17 .
^ "Feds bust leader of neo-Nazi cult who used Discord and Telegram to groom and exploit children" . Business Insider . 22 November 2024.
^ "Satanic and neo-Nazi online cults targeting Aussie kids" . dailytelegraph.com.au . 22 November 2024.
^ Government of Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (2024-08-27). "RCMP reminds Canadians about violent online groups targeting youth | Royal Canadian Mounted Police" . www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca . Archived from the original on 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2024-11-17 .
^ a b Government of Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (2024-07-19). "RCMP NL issues warning of violent online network targeting minors | Royal Canadian Mounted Police" . www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca . Retrieved 2024-11-17 .
^ Boburg, Shawn; Dehghanpoor, Chris (2024-09-09). "On social media, a bullied teen found fame among child predators worldwide" . The Washington Post .
^ Breen, Arielle (2024-11-07). "Kaleva man sent to prison for sexual exploitation of child" . Manistee News Advocate . Retrieved 2024-11-17 .
^ Massman, Bradley (2024-02-08). "Man encouraged kids to commit 'sadistic acts' for his gratification, feds say" . mlive . Retrieved 2024-11-17 .
^ a b Höfner, Roman; Lehberger, Roman; Verschwele, Lina (2024-03-13). "(S+) Cybergrooming: Wie sich Sadisten weltweit in Chatgruppen zu Straftaten verabreden" . Der Spiegel (in German). ISSN 2195-1349 . Retrieved 2024-11-17 .
^ Tangalakis-Lippert, Katherine. "Feds bust leader of neo-Nazi cult who used Discord and Telegram to groom and exploit children" . Business Insider . Retrieved 2024-11-21 .
^ Hummel, Kristina (2024-09-11). "Nihilism and Terror: How M.K.Y. Is Redefining Terrorism, Recruitment, and Mass Violence" . Combating Terrorism Center at West Point . Retrieved 2024-11-17 .
^ Roumeliotis, Ioanna; Mathieu-Leger, Laurence; Culbert, Andrew (2024-03-09). "Violent online groups are pressuring youth into harming themselves, authorities warn" . CBC .
^ Winston, Ali. "764 Terror Network Member Richard Densmore Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison" . Wired . ISSN 1059-1028 . Retrieved 2024-11-17 .
^ Lamoureux, Mack (2024-02-20). "The Vile Sextortion and Torture Ring Where Kids Target Kids" . Vice. Retrieved 2024-12-22 .