National Crime Agency Warns of Online Groups Encouraging Violence, Abuse, and Fraud

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued a warning about an alarming rise in online gangs involving teenage boys, who are sharing disturbing and harmful material that contributes to a range of criminal activities, including fraud, violence, and child sexual abuse.

These online communities, known as “Com” networks, are rapidly growing and represent an emerging threat to both online and offline safety. Between 2022 and 2024, reports of these networks have increased sixfold, with millions of disturbing messages being exchanged across the UK and other Western nations. Offenders collaborate to launch cyber-attacks, execute data breaches, commit fraud, engage in extremist behaviour, and groom victims for abuse.

Graeme Biggar, Director General of the NCA, emphasised that these groups are not confined to the dark web but are active on platforms frequently used by young people. He warned that while offenders may feel shielded by the anonymity of the internet, they are far from untouchable, with arrests and convictions already taking place both domestically and internationally.

The rise of these online groups follows growing concerns about young men in the so-called “manosphere,” with the hit Netflix series Adolescence bringing attention to the link between “incel” (involuntary celibate) culture and real-world violence. Political and sporting figures, including Keir Starmer and Gareth Southgate, have highlighted the need to address the influence of harmful online communities on boys and young men.

The NCA’s annual strategic assessment of crime risks outlines how criminals are capitalising on the shift towards a more digital lifestyle, with increasing instances of online radicalisation merging with real-world violence and extremism. Biggar pointed out that artificial intelligence is amplifying the scale of such offending, making it easier for individuals to commit crimes in large numbers.

One disturbing trend highlighted in the report involves girls, some as young as 11, being coerced into harmful acts, including self-abuse, and in extreme cases, being encouraged to take their own lives. The NCA reported that offenders are predominantly teenage boys, although some adults are involved, and these perpetrators use social media platforms to spread sadistic and misogynistic content while targeting younger peers.

The networks thrive on gaining notoriety and status from the harm they cause, with many offenders seeking sexual gratification or financial gain through coercion, grooming, and blackmail. The secretive nature of these groups often makes victims reluctant to report their abuse, leading to a significant underreporting of incidents.

Alastair Simpson, assistant chief constable and lead for child sexual exploitation at the NCA, stressed that undercover officers play a critical role in tackling these online networks. He issued a stark message to offenders, stating, “There is no space where criminals operate that we cannot go.”

The NCA is collaborating with law enforcement, technology companies, and experts to better understand the dynamics of these harmful networks and how young people become involved in such crimes. The agency also encourages parents to engage with their children about their online activities.

Jess Phillips, the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, reiterated the government’s commitment to child protection through initiatives like the Online Safety Act, which introduces some of the strictest laws globally to protect children. She also called on tech companies to take responsibility for ensuring the safety of children on their platforms.