Online Gangs Exploiting Young Girls: NCA Report Reveals "Sadistic" Content Networks

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued a stark warning about online gangs targeting girls as young as 11, grooming them into self-harm and other abusive behaviors. These groups, operating in forums known as “com networks,” share violent and misogynistic content while coordinating cybercrime and extremism. Reports indicate a six-fold increase in such cases between 2022 and 2024, with thousands of UK users exchanging millions of abusive messages¹.

Key Findings from the NCA Report

The NCA’s March 2025 report identifies “com networks” as a growing threat, where teenage boys collaborate to commit crimes ranging from child sexual abuse to cyber fraud. Victims are often groomed into extreme acts, including self-harm or abusing siblings or pets. Cases like Cameron Finnigan (jailed for assisting suicide and terror offenses) and Richard Ehiemere (convicted of fraud and child abuse imagery) highlight the severity of these crimes².

Graeme Biggar, NCA Director General, stated:

“These groups exist on platforms young people use daily. Victims are often groomed into suicide attempts.”

Jess Phillips, UK Safeguarding Minister, emphasized the need for tech companies to comply with the Online Safety Act³.

Technical and Operational Insights

The NCA report notes that these gangs operate across mainstream social platforms, encrypted messaging apps, and dark web forums. Undercover officers are actively infiltrating these networks, but the NCA stresses that social media firms must improve content moderation and reporting mechanisms⁴.

Key statistics from the report include:

85% rise in ketamine use (2023–2024), linked to health crises like “ketamine bladder”¹.
International cybercriminals (Chinese, Russian, Iranian) exploiting UK targets through fraud and ransomware¹.

Relevance to Security Professionals

For threat intelligence teams, these findings underscore the need for:

Enhanced monitoring of extremist forums and encrypted channels.
Collaboration with law enforcement to track grooming patterns.
Review of platform security under the Online Safety Act.

Resources for mitigation include CEOP Education for parents and Shorespace for under-18 victims¹.

Conclusion

The NCA’s report highlights an urgent need for coordinated action between tech companies, law enforcement, and policymakers. As online exploitation tactics evolve, proactive measures in detection and prevention are critical to safeguarding vulnerable users.