The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued a stark warning about the rise of online grooming gangs targeting girls as young as 11. These groups operate across platforms like Discord and Telegram, using sophisticated tactics to manipulate victims into self-harm, sexual abuse, or even suicide attempts. Reports indicate a six-fold increase in such cases between 2022 and 2024, with thousands of UK users exchanging millions of abusive messages1.
Threat Overview
The NCA identifies these groups as “Com Networks,” where teenage boys collaborate to commit cybercrimes, including fraud, child sexual abuse, and extremism. Victims are often coerced into producing harmful content, which is then shared within these forums to desensitize others. One notable case involves Richard Ehiemere, a 17-year-old convicted for fraud and child abuse linked to the group “CVLT”2. The NCA emphasizes that these groups exploit platforms teens use daily, making detection and intervention challenging.
Offender Tactics and Technical Methods
Grooming gangs employ a range of tactics, including fake relationships, blackmail (“doxing”), and the sharing of extreme content. The NCA reports that offenders often use encrypted messaging apps to evade detection, leveraging features like self-destructing messages to cover their tracks3. These groups also share technical knowledge, such as how to bypass platform moderation tools or exploit vulnerabilities in parental control software.
| Tactic | Technical Implementation |
|---|---|
| Grooming via fake profiles | Use of AI-generated images and stolen identities to create believable personas |
| Blackmail (“doxing”) | Exploiting metadata in shared images to locate victims |
| Content sharing | Use of encrypted cloud storage and peer-to-peer networks to distribute abusive material |
Law Enforcement and Platform Responses
The NCA is working with tech firms and global agencies to track offenders, but the scale of the problem requires a multi-faceted approach. Graeme Biggar of the NCA stated,
“These groups exist on platforms teens use daily… operating online doesn’t make them untouchable.”
Jess Phillips, the UK Safeguarding Minister, has called for stricter enforcement of the Online Safety Act, urging platforms to detect grooming patterns proactively4.
Recommendations for Mitigation
To combat this threat, the following steps are recommended:
- Parental Vigilance: Open conversations about online activity and monitoring tools.
- Tech Accountability: Platforms must enforce stricter moderation, including AI-driven detection of grooming behavior.
- Policy Strengthening: The Online Safety Act should be expanded to address peer-to-peer exploitation.
The rise of these grooming gangs highlights the urgent need for collaboration between law enforcement, tech companies, and parents. While the NCA’s efforts are commendable, the dynamic nature of online threats requires continuous adaptation and innovation in detection and prevention strategies.
References
- “Sadistic online harm groups putting people at unprecedented risk, warns the NCA,” National Crime Agency, [Online]. Available: https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/sadistic-online-harm-groups-putting-people-at-unprecedented-risk-warns-the-nca.
- “Online gangs: Teenage boys sharing extreme material ’emerging threat’ in UK,” The Guardian, [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/25/online-gangs-teenage-boys-sharing-extreme-material-emerging-threat-uk.
- “Sadistic gangs blackmailing girls online, NCA warns,” The Times, [Online]. Available: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/sadistic-gangs-blackmailing-girls-online-nca-warns-zw3ch02fm.
- “Online Safety Act must address peer-to-peer exploitation, says minister,” BBC News, [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2x9lk9grxo.