FBI alerts tie together threats of cybercrime, physical violence from The Com

The FBI released detailed PSAs warning about “The Com,” a sprawling network of thousands of mostly young members (typically 11–25) that has splintered into three main subsets: Hacker Com (cyber intrusions, ransomware, phishing, malware and credential theft), In Real Life (IRL) Com (swatting, kidnapping, physical extortion and violence), and Extortion Com (systematic sextortion and exploitation of minors). The report documents recruitment on gaming and social platforms, the groups’ use of VPNs, RATs, phishing kits, encrypted services and cash‑out methods, links to high‑profile crimes and arrests (including child exploitation charges), and advises victims to preserve evidence and report incidents to NCMEC, IC3 and FBI field offices.