Feds issue dire warning about 'horrific' online plot against kids

Federal authorities are urging parents to keep a close eye on their children's online activity for signs of "nihilistic violent extremist" groups that allegedly target minors by coercing them to commit violence and other harmful acts.

The groups, known as NVEs, "engage in criminal conduct within the United States and abroad, in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society at large and a desire to bring about its collapse by sowing indiscriminate chaos, destruction, and social instability," the Department of Justice said in a July 8 news release announcing the prison sentence of a group leader.

The groups, which include a network called "764," coerce vulnerable victims, including children, into performing the acts on video or live streams, according to the FBI. Examples have included self-harm, animal cruelty, sexually explicit acts and suicide.

The FBI in Boston warned earlier in the year of a "sharp increase" in the activity of such groups, and now the Justice Department is repeating the warning.

"These organizations target children as part of their broader mission to spread terror. These groups ultimately seek nothing less than the destruction of our society," said John A. Eisenberg, assistant attorney general for national security.

Here's what parents need to know:

What is a nihilistic violent extremist group?

"Nihilistic violent extremist" refers to a subculture of online actors who obsess over acts of violence such as mass shootings, USA TODAY has previously reported. The groups "want to sow chaos and facilitate the destruction of society," according to the FBI.

They use a tactic referred to by the FBI as "sadistic online exploitation." They may also use threats, blackmail and other tactics to coerce victims to film themselves committing harmful acts. The groups then use the videos to further extort victims, according to the FBI.

They may also use "swatting" (the act of falsely reporting a serious, often violent, crime to authorities to provoke a law enforcement response to a victim's home) or doxxing (sharing sensitive personal information such as an address or financial information) to coerce victims, the FBI in Boston said.

"Nothing is more abhorrent than those who prey on children and other vulnerable members of our society and this defendant will pay a steep price for doing just that," said Acting Assistant Director Coult Markovsky of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division. "The FBI has made it a high priority to [identify] and arrest Nihilistic Violent Extremists who coerce juveniles into horrific acts of self-harm."

The perpetrators are often males under the age of 25 who come from all walks of life, the FBI said.

A desire to gain infamy among an NVE group appeared to be a driving factor behind a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on May 18 in which two teenagers killed three people and then themselves, USA TODAY previously reported.

Group leader gets 40 years in prison

Alexis Aldair Chavez, a San Antonio-based member of an NVE group related to the 764 network, was sentenced to 40 years after pleading guilty to racketeering, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography, the Justice Department announced July 8.

According to the Justice Department, Chavez was involved in multiple instances of coercing or attempting to coerce a minor to harm themselves or commit harm. Prosecutors said he was known online as Zack and Zack8884, and was an administrator of the "8884" network.

"Members of 8884 work in concert with one another towards a common purpose of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, including minors," the DOJ said.

In October 2023, Chavez and a coconspirator tried to get a minor girl to kill herself by overdosing on pills in a video chat, the DOJ said. He later worked with that victim to coerce another girl in another country to undress on camera, cut herself and perform sexual acts. They coerced another female victim to carve the word "Zack" into herself, the DOJ said. In December 2023, Chavez and another person coerced a minor girl to cut her tongue and to torture and kill a cat on video, the DOJ said. Another victim was coerced to light her arm on fire, the DOJ said.

He was arrested in October 2024, authorities said.

Feds warn parents to monitor online activity

The FBI said parents and others involved in vulnerable people's lives should monitor online activity and discuss the risks of sharing personal information. They should also be careful when posting photos or identifying information of their children and other vulnerable individuals online.

"Parents need to know what their children are doing online and must stay engaged, ask difficult questions, and not fall into the trap of believing their child is 'just playing games' or 'just talking with their friends,'" U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Justin R. Simmons said in a statement.

Here's what parents should know about the NVE groups, according to the FBI and DOJ:

• The groups use publicly available platforms, such as social media sites, gaming platforms and phone apps.
• They most often target minor girls, but anyone can be targeted, including boys and adults.
• Most victims fall into the age range of 10 to 17, but victims as young as 9 have been targeted.
• Aside from children, other vulnerable groups that have been targeted include those experiencing mental health issues, such as depression, eating disorders or suicidal ideation.
• "Threat actors" groom their victims by establishing a relationship before coercing them.

These are warning signs that parents, other family and friends should watch out for, officials say:

• Changes in behavior such as becoming withdrawn, isolated or irritable
• Changes in appearance, including a sudden neglect of appearance
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Having a new online "friend" they seem infatuated with or scared of
• Receiving anonymous gifts, including items delivered to their residence or gaming currency
• Scars, which could be in patterns, or cuts, scratches, bruises, bite marks, burns and other new wounds
• Carvings in the skin, including words or patterns
• Wearing long sleeves or pants in hot weather
• Writing in blood or what appears to be blood.
• Talking about suicide or death or not wanting to be around
• Idealization of mass shootings or similar events
• Pets or other animals being harmed or dying under suspicious circumstances, or family pets acting fearful
• Being "swatted" or doxxed, resulting in law enforcement being called to the home by an unknown person

If you or someone you know is a victim of NVE behavior online, you can report the activity to 800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

Contributing: Will Carless

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Feds issue dire warning about 'horrific' online plot against kids

Reporting by Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM.