Helena Police investigate threat made to child by group FBI dubs a ‘violent online network’

HELENA, Ala. (WIAT) – A violent online group known as 764 has found its way into Alabama homes. The Helena Police Department is investigating a threat made to a child, which they believe is linked to 764.

“They go online on gaming platforms like Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and they befriend these kids and they, in turn, try to get them to do self-harm or join their cult. Basically, it’s a domestic terrorism group,” said Helena Police Detective Jason Davis. “The biggest one that we’ve run into is Skibidi Farms. The moderators say it’s a place for freedom of speech, anything goes, we don’t necessarily believe in it, but most of the juveniles that are in the 764 group are on this platform.”

Helena Police Chief Mike Wood says they’ve been looking into this case for about a month. We know the victim is under 18 years old, but Chief Wood would not give any other details since it is an active investigation to protect the child.

“A kid might say ‘man, my life sucks,’ or ‘my parents suck,’ or ‘I want to kill myself,’ and that’s when they grab them,” Davis said.

The FBI issued a public service announcement in March, warning of 764. According to the FBI, the group targets children, typically girls ranging from 10-17 years old. However, they say any person, any age can be a victim.

The FBI says 764 will threaten the child with ‘swatting,’ which is making a false call to police and having them show up at the victim’s house, or ‘doxxing,’ making personal information public, if the victim does not do what is asked of them. The FBI says the victims are blackmailed to send in nude photos or videos of themselves or others, post self-harm videos, and, in some cases, livestream their suicide.

“I want parents to know they need to really monitor their kids,” said Davis. “Whether it’s a phone, a tablet, laptop, gaming systems, I want them to physically watch them play, listen to them, and check what they’re searching.”

Davis says children will target other children, preying on people with mental health issues like depression, eating disorders or suicidal thoughts.

“That’s the million-dollar question on why. We’re not 100% sure on that, but we do know that to them, the things that I’ve researched and seen, they get enjoyment out of it,” said Davis. “Their lives are so messed up and so bad, they get enjoyment from messing up other people’s lives or making them commit self-harm and posting it on social media platforms, gaming platforms.”

Blount County District Attorney Pam Casey says once a month, she hears from parents whose children have been victims of ‘sextortion,’ even if not linked to 764.

“A lot of times, our most vulnerable victims are those children who have something going on in their life. They want to be told they’re pretty, they want to be told they’re loved, they want to be told that they’re a part of something because maybe they’re not getting that from home or they’re being bullied at school,” Casey said. “So they find that person or they find that connection through someone they meet online.”

Casey says it’s important for parents to keep up with their children’s online activity and to build a relationship with their children where they’ll feel safe coming to them if something uncomfortable happens online.

“Games are not innocent. Sometimes we think children just play their games,” she said. “If you wouldn’t let your child communicate with someone you don’t know in real life, why are you giving them that opportunity on the phone?”

Helena Police say there is no immediate threat to the public, but stress that this can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.