Police warn parents about online network exploiting children on Discord and Roblox

Detectives in the Indiana city of Fort Wayne have issued a public warning about an online network they say is exploiting children across the United States, and confirmed that cases linked to such groups are being investigated locally.

The Fort Wayne Police Department told a press conference on Wednesday morning that groups including 764 use Discord, Roblox, Telegram and other online platforms to build relationships with children and vulnerable people. Detectives said contact that begins with messages or friend requests can escalate into grooming, sextortion, threats and psychological manipulation. Photographs and information sent by victims, the department said, can then be used to threaten, blackmail or extort them.

"This is a worldwide problem. Fort Wayne and our surrounding community are not immune; these online extremists are targeting our children. It is happening in Fort Wayne," Detective Brian Martin said at the briefing.

No arrests made

Detective Martin confirmed the department is actively investigating one or more cases connected to such groups, but said no arrests have been made. The department said the networks are, in its words, leading to deaths across the country, and that it wants parents, guardians, educators and young people to be aware of them.

Officers asked anyone who believes their child is being targeted to preserve evidence rather than delete it. The department advised documenting usernames, account details, messages, threats, the dates and times of contact, phone numbers, email addresses and any other information that could identify those involved. Accounts and messages that may hold evidence should not be deleted at once, the department said, and families should not confront suspects or try to investigate on their own.

FBI guidance for parents

The Federal Bureau of Investigation shared a list of steps for parents and guardians. It advised monitoring children's online activity closely, including who they communicate with, and using parental controls. It also suggested searching regularly for a child's information online to see how widely it is exposed, and keeping software updated to reduce security risks.

The FBI's other recommendations include being careful about posting photos, videos or personal information, particularly anything involving minors; being cautious about friend requests, video calls and sending images to strangers; switching off computers and covering webcams when not in use; and not opening attachments from unknown senders. It also recommends applications that monitor a child's phone and online activity.

Parents are urged to talk to their children about the threat and to make clear they can say "no" to anyone asking for a nude photo, even someone they know and trust. Messages, texts and emails should be kept, the bureau said, because they are crucial evidence for law enforcement.

The Fort Wayne department also published images of symbols it says are commonly associated with 764, alongside a public safety announcement.

Anyone affected by the issues in this article can contact Samaritans free on 116 123 or at samaritans.org.

Families who want to know more can read about how long people have to claim, who can claim, how a social media harm claim works and the court cases we report.