IC3 Issues Alert About a Cybercrime Group Recruiting Kids
By: Jim Stickley and Tina Davis
January 13, 2026
The FBI's IC3 has just sounded the alarm about a growing online criminal network called The Com (short for "The Community"). And it's not your average hacker crew. This sprawling, international ecosystem includes thousands of members, many of them minors who are wrapped up in cybercrime, extortion, swatting, SIM swapping, ransomware, and even child sexual abuse content. What’s worse? They recruit young people, some as young as 11, through gaming sites and social media, reasoning that juveniles are less likely to face legal consequences.
Being recruited into The Com isn't just a bad idea, it can be dangerous. Members may be asked to participate in pranks like swatting or hoaxes, or worse, criminal acts for status, money, or thrills. Some are involved in extortion, violence, or theft, all masked behind a facade of “cool” cyber mischief.
So what can parents do?
- Watch what your kids post. Teach them that selfies, phone numbers, or location tags shared online can be used against them.
- Tighten privacy settings. Photos, profiles, and posts should be locked down—not public.
- Talk openly about not sharing with online strangers. They need to know not to share personal info, friend requests, or join groups with people they don't know in real life. Make them feel comfortable speaking with you about their online encounters.
- Don’t let them pay or comply with demands. Giving in to threats, especially around blackmail or doxing, doesn’t keep them safe.
- Enable MFA and strong passwords. Every online account should have that extra protection. At a minimum, this should be a one-time code sent via text. For more security, use code generators or hardware keys. Make sure their passwords are strong too.
- Report scary stuff fast. If you sense something’s off, or see grooming or extortion behaviors, call 911, use IC3, or invoke resources like NCMEC’s “Take It Down” service.
Of note, swatting is the most visible violation that occurs within The Com and often acts as the entry point into the larger Com ecosystem. Swatting is when someone makes a false emergency report to law enforcement, such as claiming there’s a hostage situation, active shooter, or other violent crime, at a victim’s address. This sends the SWAT team to the address that is used as a distraction for The Com’s other illegal activities.
The bottom line is that cybercriminals are playing on the innocence and tech-savvy of kids. Keep the conversations and privacy settings tight, and stay one step ahead.
SUBSCRIBE TO WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
