EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A violent digital extremist group known by “764” is grooming, manipulating, and exploiting youth across Texas.

764 first emerged in 2021 and was started by a teenager in Stephenville, Texas. They are known to populate chatting apps like Discord and Telegram and online games like Roblox and Minecraft. Authorities describe it as a network of predators who target children and vulnerable teens.

Ernesto Reyes with Crime Stoppers Safety and Prevention joined KTSM’s Ian Roth during KTSM at Noon to talk about the group targeting children in El Paso.

“There goal is to target youth through any online platform. Any kind of platform with any kind of chat is possible,” Reyes said.

Many of its group’s members have been arrested for crimes related to child exploitation and violence.

Crime Stoppers tells KTSM Texas teens are already navigating rising mental health challenges, increased screen time, and online spaces that are evolving faster than safeguards can keep up. They say violent manipulators thrive when youth feel isolated or unsupported, and adults are unaware of how quickly manipulation can escalate.

Crime Stoppers offices around the state are warning parents about this violent group and online digital safety as part of their “Million for Ten Million” campaign. They say they’re committed to protecting 10 million youth across Texas, including youth in El Paso, through education, prevention, and trusted reporting resources.

The FBI recommends the following steps to protect you and your family from online threats.

Do:

Closely monitor children’s use of online services.

Conduct regular Internet searches of children’s information to monitor the exposure and spread of their information on the Internet.

Consider credit or identity theft monitoring to check for any fraudulent use of child’s identity.

Have open communication with your child/children to help prevent cybercrime. Talk about their online activities and what games they play.

Conduct regular updates from software companies to help stop security breaches.

Keep all text, email, and other message interactions as evidence.

Don’t:

Don’t delete messages from the offenders. It’s crucial for investigations.

Don’t provide detailed information on children when creating user profiles (e.g., use initials instead of full names, avoid using exact dates of birth, avoid including photos, etc.)

Don’t post hoax threats online. Hoax threats are not a joke, and they can have devastating consequences. It disrupts school, waste limited law enforcement resources, and puts first responders in unnecessary danger.

If you or someone you know may be a victim of 764, authorities urge you to contact Crime Stoppers of El Paso at their website or by calling 915-566-TIPS (8477).

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.