RCMP on Vancouver Island warn of online group exploiting children
West Shore Mounties are investigating three reports involving a violent online group called 764 exploiting children in the area.
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RCMP on Vancouver Island are warning parents and caregivers about a violent online group targeting children in games like Roblox and Minecraft.
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Mounties in West Shore, a municipality west of Victoria, are investigating three reports involving a group called 764, which is part of a larger online network known as the Com.
Investigators say the Com, which glorifies serious violence, cruelty and gore, deliberately targets and recruits vulnerable children ages eight to 17.
These groups operate on popular social media platforms such as Discord, Telegram, Roblox, Minecraft, Twitch and other streaming platforms, according to a news release Wednesday from the West Shore RCMP.
Investigators say predators use grooming processes that can include establishing trusting or romantic relationships or using power or coercive tactics to get victims to engage in serious violence, self harm or gore activities. These acts can include recording or photographing themselves, siblings or others in explicit poses, harming or killing animals or trying to die by suicide.
West Shore RCMP have listed some signs to watch out for in kids:
• They have a new online “friend” or network they seem infatuated with and/or scared of.
• They’re receiving anonymous gifts, items delivered to your home, currency, gaming currency or other virtual items.
• They’re demonstrating an interest or affinity to consumption of gore content, interest in disasters, self-harm, suicide, moral nihilism, occultism and True Crime Community-related content.
• Writing in blood or what appears to be blood.
• They’re spending more time on the internet, unsupervised or alone in their room.
• They’re spending more money online or asking for money more often than usual.
Anyone who thinks a child or youth is being targeted online is asked to report the information to cybertip.ca or call the police. If someone is in immediate danger call 911.
