FBI Warns of ‘The Com’, a Vast and Decentralized Anglo-Saxon Cybercriminal Network
On July 23, 2025, the FBI issued an alert regarding The Com, a sprawling and loosely structured cybercriminal network comprising thousands of English-speaking members, primarily based in the United States and the United Kingdom. The organization actively recruits minors to engage in a wide range of illicit activities, including ransomware attacks, swatting, sextortion, child sexual abuse material (CSAM) distribution, DDoS attacks, SIM swapping, and cryptocurrency theft.
According to the FBI, these crimes are fueled by a variety of motivations: “profit, revenge, ideology, sexual gratification, and notoriety.” Recruiting underage perpetrators is seen as a tactic to minimize legal consequences. Law enforcement and cybersecurity experts have long sounded the alarm on The Com and its many offshoots.
The network reportedly operates through several subgroups, each with a specific criminal focus:
- Scattered Spider: a ransomware gang responsible for high-profile cyberattacks;
- Hacker Com: a cluster of hackers, including operators of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms;
- IRL Com: a real-world violence cell involved in shootings, kidnappings, armed robberies, stabbings, and so-called “bricking” attacks;
- Extortion Com: a group dedicated to blackmail, often targeting underage girls.
Some members of The Com have also been linked to more severe criminal cases, including kidnappings and acts of torture.