Latest news with #onlinepredators
Fox News
16 hours ago
- Fox News
Parents warned about red flags as violent 764 predators go after kids: FBI expert
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). After the FBI launched an investigation into a sophisticated criminal network targeting kids and teens online known as "764," a former FBI agent is providing parents with practical tips to keep their children safe. Dr. Stephen Boyce, CEO and president of the Cyber Doctor and former forensic analyst with the FBI, explained to Fox News Digital that the group originated around 2021 and has grown 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. Initially traced back to a U.S.-based founder who was later sentenced to 80 years in prison, the group has since expanded its reach. The FBI recently shared that it is investigating at least 250 incidents tied to the group. "The FBI is investigating at least 250 subjects who are tied to violent online networks commonly referred to as '764' but includes many offshoot networks and names," the FBI told Fox News in a statement on Tuesday evening. "All 55 FBI field offices across the country are involved in these investigations." The predators are known for targeting minors on social media and using coercion to get them to film themselves committing violent or sexual acts, and then using those videos to extort minors for increasing violent or sexual videos that are then shared with "764" followers online. Boyce warned that "the common one that certainly hits all the headlines is Roblox as well as Discord", noting that while these platforms are not inherently malicious, their communication features have been exploited by predators. Mainstream apps that many young adults use, like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and X, are not immune to misuse, he said. "I think anything where you have the ability to communicate with someone else warrants parents being aware of who their kids are interacting with," he said. Boyce said an equally concerning factor is the group's use of psychological tactics to entrap victims. "One of the most common tactics is love bombing and getting into these fake online relationships," said Boyce. The manipulation can lead to minors sending compromising content or performing disturbing acts. "There is quite a bit of that sextortion, as well as various different things and the use of encoded language," Boyce explained, pointing to the use of communicating through memes and coded language. The group's endgame can be especially tragic. In some cases, the 764 network pushes its victims toward livestreamed self-harm and even suicide. "They do promote self-harm," he said. "Children have been asked to self-harm and write their name in their own blood." These acts are often used as rites of passage within the group, further binding victims into its toxic culture, he explained. 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."
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Modern Family star Ariel Winter poses as 12-year-old girl to catch a predator
Modern Family star Ariel Winter opened up about her harrowing experience posing as a pre-teen girl to help catch a child sexual predator. The 27-year-old actress, who played Alex Dunphy on the hit sitcom 'Modern Family' from 2009 to 2020, joined forces with the non-profit Safe from Online Sex Abuse (SOSA) for an undercover sting operation that was featured in the true crime docuseries 'SOSA Undercover'. In the premiere episode, Winter pretended to be a 12-year-old girl to entice a 31-year-old predator in Oklahoma City. During an interview with the Daily Mail published Friday, Winter explained how she felt about serving as a decoy in the operation. 'It's definitely cathartic to be teaming with SOSA, knowing that I can make a difference,' Winter said. 'It can be scary at times pretending to be 12 and talking to older men, but it's validating to put away predators that have been harming children,' she continued. 'Growing up in the entertainment industry, I've been the girl we are trying to save,' Winter added. 'It's vital to me to help protect young women from the experiences I endured in my own life.' Winter donned a blonde wig with bangs to play the part of the fake 12-year-old. In one scene, Winter was seen sitting on a bed in a room that was staged to look like a child's bedroom. The actress adopted a childlike voice as she FaceTimed the predator, whom she referred to as 'Daddy.' While speaking with the Daily Mail, Winter described how she worked with SOSA to identify online child sexual predators. 'Finding someone is hard, because they don't use their real name or handle, and we have to do research into who these people are,' she said. 'You see a lot of dark things when you start investigating who is after pre-teen girls. 'I was surprised by the volume how many men were out there looking to talk to young girls who were 12 or 13. It's hundreds of thousands of men,' Winter continued. 'These men also look like normal, nice guys — they don't look like predators,' she added. 'They look like the guy next-door, and they're usually married and have children. The men seem nice because they have pets, and they show you pictures of their dogs. They talk about their everyday life, and they seem like sweet men. But the truth is they want to spend time with a 12-year-old girl, they ask inappropriate questions and want to know if parents are around.' 'One guy was almost 40-years-old, and he wanted to take an 11-year-old girl shopping for a new bra. That's not normal. It's not good.' The actress told the outlet that seeing adult men who were seeking out girls ranging from 12 to 14-years-old was 'wild.' 'This whole experience has been heartbreaking, because I think of how young these girls are and they're being approached by much older men,' she said. 'I am familiar with male predators, because I worked in Hollywood at a young age, I started at age four,' added Winter, who made her TV debut in a 2002 Cool Whip commercial. 'I don't wanna say too much about it, but by the time I was on a laptop and cell phone, I was getting inappropriate messages from older men, and it causes trauma,' she continued. 'The experiences I had in person and online as a child have affected me so deeply that I've had to go to therapy for it,' Winter explained. 'The movie and TV industry is a dark place.' Winter noted how easy it can be for vulnerable children to become prey for adult perpetrators. 'Kids look for online relationships because they're lonely or bored, and then they find a male and think that they can connect to them, not realising they are so much older and are actually predators with bad intentions,' she said. The TV star told the outlet that she planned to continue volunteering for SOSA. 'I like working with SOSA because it's women helping women, and I'll do it as long as I can,' Winter said. In February, SOSA shared a clip from the premiere episode on Instagram ahead of its release on March 20. At the time, Winter commented on the video as she candidly reflected on her real-life experiences with child sexual abuse. 'I was a victim of grooming online and IRL, and CSA,' Winter wrote. 'The effects are lifelong and inescapable. This has ALWAYS been a problem, but in the digital age it is only escalating to more extreme levels and in more manipulative ways.'
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Modern Family star Ariel Winter, 27, talks 'scary' move of posing as a 12-year-old decoy to nab a sexual predator
Ariel Winter has a new job. The 27-year-old actress - who played Alex Dunphy on ABC's hit series Modern Family - dressed up as a blonde 12-year-old girl to nab a high-risk predator. The Hollywood veteran became a part of undercover operations for the nonprofit SOSA - Safe from Online Sex Abuse - for a true crime docuseries on YouTube called SOSA Undercover. Ariel pretended to be a 12-year-old to serve as a decoy in an Oklahoma City sting operation. Driven by her own experiences, the mission is personal. 'It's definitely cathartic to be teaming with SOSA, knowing that I can make a difference,' Winter told 'It can be scary at times pretending to be 12 and talking to older men, but it's validating to put away predators that have been harming children. 'Growing up in the entertainment industry, I've been the girl we are trying to save. It's vital to me to help protect young women from the experiences I endured in my own life.' The ubiquity of online predators in photo-sharing apps, gaming platforms and social media renders today's teens more vulnerable than ever. SOSA partners directly with law enforcement to identify and arrest child predators. Winter told that it was a lot of work catching predators. 'Finding someone is hard because they don't use their real name or handle and we have to do research into who these people are,' she told 'You see a lot of dark things when you start investigating who is after pre-teen girls. 'I was surprised by the volume how many men were out there looking to talk to young girls who were 12 or 13. It's hundreds of thousands of men. 'These men also look like normal, nice guys - they don't look like predators. They look like the guy next-door and they're usually married and have children. The men seem nice because they have pets and they show you pictures of their dogs. They talk about their everyday life and they seem like sweet men. But the truth is they want to spend time with a 12-year-old girl, they ask inappropriate questions and want to know if parents are around. 'One guy was almost 40-years-old and he wanted to take an 11-year-old girl shopping for a new bra. That's not normal. It's not good.' Ariel also said it was 'wild' to see that the age of girls that adult men were attracted to was 12 to 14. 'This whole experience has been heartbreaking because I think of how young these girls are and they're being approached by much older men,' Winter added. 'I am familiar with male predators because I worked in Hollywood at a young age, I started at age four. 'It can be scary at times pretending to be 12 and taking to older men, but it's validating to put away predators that have been harming children,' the Sofia The First star added 'I don't wanna say too much about it, but by the time I was on a laptop and cell phone, I was getting inappropriate messages from older men, and it causes trauma. 'The experiences I had in person and online as a child have affected me so deeply that I've had to go to therapy for it. The movie and TV industry is a dark place.' And she feels bad for the young girls who go online to find a friend. 'Kids look for online relationship because they're lonely or bored and then they find a male and think that they can connect to them, no realizing they are so much older and are actually predators with bad intentions,' said Winter. It's important for her to do the right thing. 'I like working with SOSA because it's women helping women and I'll do it as long as I can,' she noted. SOSA's founder, Roo Powell, added, 'Ariel is boosting our platform and it means so much to us because we have only five full-time employees and we have a smaller budget than most libraries so we need the help. The SOSA wall is full of arrested online predators looking to seduce children Ariel seen in her computer working hard with SOSA team members 'You see a lot of dark things when you start investigating who is after pre-teen girls. I was surprised by the volume how many men were out there looking to talk to young girls who were 12 and under. It's hundreds of thousands of men,' said the former Disney star 'Ariel is getting the word out about SOSA. She has been amazing. She will do anything to help us. She helps take out the trash and she'll eat cold cheeseburgers with us,' said Roo. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported over 36.2 million cases of suspected child sexual exploitation—a 12% increase from the previous year. Despite dedicated ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) task forces, most local agencies lack the capacity to pose as minors—and predators are getting smarter, constantly looking for proof that the teens they target are real. SOSA's experienced team creates realistic backstories and environments — including a fully staged 'decoy house' — allowing their minor personas to respond to predators on video calls, build trust, and provide law enforcement with the critical evidence needed to secure arrests. SOSA's impact extends beyond law enforcement— they have a highly engaged audience of over 1M followers on Instagram (@sosatogether) and TikTok (@sosatogether), where they raise awareness, share insights and educational resources, as well as behind-the-scenes content to empower parents and teens. SOSA UNDERCOVER premiered last month on YouTube. Join over 100,000 early subscribers for real-time updates and new episodes every two weeks. Free access is available, but for just $5.99/month, you'll unlock uncensored full episodes, exclusive bonus content, and an ad-free experience — all in one place. Subscribe now on YouTube. SOSA Undercover is a true crime docuseries that follows the high-stakes undercover investigations of SOSA (Safe from Online Sex Abuse) as they work directly with law enforcement to track and apprehend online predators. Unlike self-proclaimed 'predator hunters,' SOSA operates strictly within legal guidelines, partnering with ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) law enforcement officers and district attorneys to ensure their collected evidence is fully prosecutable. In addition to documentary-style episodes covering real cases, SOSA Undercover will share educational content and behind-the-scenes extras, including livestreams with the team, deleted scenes, and more. SOSA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting minors from online sexual exploitation by collaborating with law enforcement to conduct undercover operations. The organization's work is focused on preventing online child exploitation, educating communities, and advocating for stronger protective measures. SOSA has built a highly engaged online community, with over 1 million followers on Instagram (@sosatogether) and TikTok (@sosatogether) where they provide resources, safety tips, and real-time insights into their efforts to protect children from online predators. SOSA's founder, Roo Powell, is a law enforcement consultant and subject matter expert. She travels across the country to conduct undercover operations and train law enforcement, as well as advocate for more effective legislation and educate parents and communities about keeping their kids safe online.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Shock moment accused paedophile wearing The Muppets pyjamas with an 'unleash the beast' t-shirt is arrested
Dramatic footage has captured the moment an accused paedophile wearing The Muppets-themed pyjamas is busted by detectives in his home. Two men, aged 49 and 58, were arrested on the Sunshine Coast by detectives targeting online child exploitation and abuse on Monday. In footage of the arrests, detectives are seen speaking with the pyjama-clad 58-year-old as he sat on a couch barefoot. In another clip, officers are seen inspecting a laptop and desktop computer and searching a room filled to the brim with books. Army medals are also visible on a shelf. The second man, wearing a black sweatshirt and black shorts, is seen speaking with officers while holding work boots in one hand. The 49-year-old man was charged with one count each of using a carriage service to access child abuse material and possessing child exploitation material. Police allege the man accessed child abuse content online, with multiple electronic devices seized from his home for forensic examination. The Nambour man was released on strict bail conditions and is scheduled to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 7. The 58-year-old man was arrested following a search of a Sunshine Coast home. He was charged with one count of using the internet to procure a child under the age of 16 and later released on strict bail conditions. He is set to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 14. Detective Acting Inspector Cameron Burke of Task Force Argos emphasised the serious risk online predators pose to children. 'Predators are constantly adapting to new platforms and technologies, which is why a whole-of-community response is crucial,' he said. 'Every app, game, or messaging service a child uses can be a potential contact point for harm if not supervised.' He urged parents and caregivers to be involved in their children's online activities. 'Parents and caregivers don't need to be tech experts, but they do need to be engaged,' he continued. 'Understanding the apps children use, the settings, supervising, and keeping the lines of communication open are the key to prevention.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Operation Safe Online Summer nabs Arizona child abuse suspects
The Brief Operation Safe Online Summer resulted in the arrests of dozens, which included some Arizona suspects. The operation, led by the Dept. of Justice, worked with local, state and federal authorities to crackdown on online child exploitation offenders. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is pleading with parents to talk with their kids about the dangers and warning signs. PHOENIX - More than 70 online child predators were arrested in Operation Safe Online Summer, with some arrests happening in Arizona. What we know The nationwide Department of Justice operation began in April and included dozens of local, state and federal authorities. The operation targeted child predators and those who share child exploration materials, and the crackdown isn't over yet. Authorities say more indictments and arrests are on the way in Arizona and across the country. Seventy-two people in Arizona and surrounding states were arrested. Authorities hope this is a wake-up call to all parents. "Parents and people who care for children, please use as much safety as you can," Phoenix Police Assistant Chief Ed DeCastro pleaded. By the numbers It started with more than 139 cyber tips that were alerted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Of the people arrested, nine are considered hands-on offenders, and 12 are registered sex offenders. There are ways to see the signs. "Take five minutes today. Take five minutes to start this conversation, because when it comes to protecting your kids, waiting is not an option, "Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said. The operation identified 25 ongoing exploitation victims, and 14 new child victims. "Every child rescued, every predator taken off the streets represents a safer future for Arizona," Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said. Operation Safe Online Summer also included 11 community education events, reaching 350 parents and students. What we don't know The names of the suspects and the charges they're facing haven't been released.
