Bongino Warns Parents About Sadistic ‘764’ Group Targeting Children

Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is sounding the alarm again about a dangerous online criminal network preying on America’s children — and urging parents to stay vigilant as federal authorities intensify efforts to stop it.

Bongino Issues Urgent Warning to Parents

Bongino, who relaunched his once-popular podcast this week after leaving the FBI in January, used his Wednesday show to spotlight a disturbing online group known as “764,” which law enforcement officials say targets minors in online chat rooms and gaming communities.

“I want you to pay very close attention to these three numbers,” Bongino said in a video clip from the episode, displayed alongside a graphic reading “A Deadly Serious Warning To All Parents.”

“764. There is a network of people out there…this is what they call the 764 group inside the FBI…and folks, if you haven’t heard about them, look them up,” he continued.

Bongino emphasized that the issue goes beyond child safety alone, warning that it also raises broader concerns about surveillance and civil liberties.

“This group is disgusting. It is horrifying the stuff they do,” he warned, referencing briefings he received during his time at the bureau. He declined to describe the material in detail, telling viewers, “I promise I’m not gonna describe” what he saw “because you’ll throw up.”

He explained that members of the network allegedly seek out children through online games and chat platforms, urging parents to stay actively involved in monitoring their kids’ digital activity.

“What this network does is they hunt down and find your kids in these chat rooms for these online games and chat rooms and elsewhere. Folks, you have to monitor this stuff. It is not a small network,” Bongino said.

Federal Investigations Ramp Up Nationwide

Federal authorities have been pursuing the network for months. According to Fox News reporting last November, investigators escalated a nationwide crackdown on what they describe as a violent online criminal organization accused of exploiting minors and coercing them into harmful behavior.

Bongino previously told reporters that the FBI had opened more than 300 investigations into individuals linked to the loosely organized group. Law enforcement officials say the network targets young users on major social media and gaming platforms.

“For those who may not know, the 764 Network is a heinous child-exploitation ring that often targets children online and coerces them into acts of violence, self-harm, animal abuse, suicide, and sexual abuse,” Bongino warned in a prior statement on X.

“At the beginning of the year, our teams redoubled efforts to go after these networks and eliminate them. We have more than 300 investigations connected to this network nationwide, and that number is growing. It is a top priority for us,” he added.

Recent enforcement actions include the arrest of a suspect in the Baltimore area accused of targeting multiple minors, including a 13-year-old. In a separate Arizona case, federal prosecutors allege another affiliate preyed on children between the ages of 11 and 15.

Authorities Highlight Growing Online Threats

According to the FBI, individuals connected to the 764 network allegedly befriend minors online and then use coercion and threats to pressure victims into dangerous or degrading behavior. Officials say the group operates across international borders and uses encrypted messaging services and online communities to carry out its activities.

Federal investigators have linked the network to cyberstalking, exploitation offenses, and other crimes. Previous operations have resulted in indictments and arrests of suspects accused of running parts of the organization or distributing illegal material involving minors.

Law enforcement agencies say they are coordinating with partners across the country and overseas to identify suspects, dismantle the network, and alert parents about the evolving dangers children face online — a growing concern as digital platforms continue to dominate young Americans’ daily lives.