ABC-7 at 4: FBI warns public about violent online groups targeting minors

El Paso, Texas (KVIA-TV) — The FBI El Paso is warning of violent online groups that are using messaging platforms to extort minors into recording or live-streaming self-harm. Special Agent Harper explains what Gore Groups are, what they’re called, and what parents should be aware of.

Agent Harper stated that Gore groups intentionally target underage victims to extort them into livestreaming self-harm and producing child abuse material, which allows group members to control and blackmail victims in order to gain status within the group. Many members have the end goal of coercing minors to commit suicide on livestream for their own entertainment or sense of fame.

The violent online groups go by many names including 676, 764, CVLT, Court, Kaskar, Harm Nation, Leak Society and H3ll but are constantly evolving and forming subgroups under different names. The sole purpose of these groups is to desensitize our children to extreme forms of bloodshed and sexual and violent activities such as animal cruelty, beheadings, murders, suicides, self-harm and body cutting in order to bring about the collapse of Western society through the degradation of social norms.

Gore groups pose a cross-program threat to the FBI. They are classified as counterterrorism racially motivated violent extremist groups with online sexual exploitation and extortion of the children in our communities. That means both of our offenses are devoting resources to these groups. These gore group actors build the perception of themselves as a gang or a cult whose sole purpose is to destroy Western society.

The groups target minors between the ages of 8 and 17, specifically LGBTQIA+ youth, racial minorities, and those struggling with various mental health issues, including depression and suicidal thoughts. These actors can be found on popular online platforms like Telegram, Discord, Minecraft, and Roblox. There are signs that your child may be involved in these groups.

• Victims are blackmailed into sending images of self-harm, such as cutting themselves, or videos and images of ‘fan signings’.
• ‘Fansiging’ is when ‘the victim is pressured to write or cut specific numbers, letters, symbols, or words on their body and take a picture of it to send to the group.’

Agent Harper explains that there are victims in El Paso. The FBI victim reports from last week for several girls in our area. This is underreported because most parents don’t know what they are dealing with. NCMEC has received hundreds of these reports in 2023, a dramatic increase from 2022.

Warning Signs for Parents/Teachers/Friends/Caregivers

• Engravings, such as words or symbols, on the skin.
• Wearing long sleeves or long pants in warm weather.
• Fresh cuts, scratches, bruises, bites, burns or other wounds.
• Scars, often in patterns.
• Sudden changes in behavior such as withdrawal, moodiness, or irritability.
• Sudden changes in appearance, especially neglect of appearance.
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits.
• Cessation of activities and becoming increasingly isolated and withdrawn.
• Threatening suicide and talking openly about death, not being wanted or needed, or not being there.

If you are concerned about someone who may be harming themselves or at risk of suicide, consult a healthcare provider or call 9-1-1 for an immediate, life-threatening emergency. You can also contact the FBI at 915-832-5000 after your child has received the help they need and report the actual incident with information about the predator, such as screen names, online platforms, and identities of other possible victims.