Welcome to the digital underbelly known as The Com! It’s not your friendly neighborhood watch group; rather, it’s where the internet’s most notorious cyber baddies hang out. The Com is divided into three notorious groups: Hacker Com, IRL (In Real Life) Com, and Extortion Com. Imagine these as the digital equivalent of villainous cliques in a high school cafeteria, but instead of trading sandwiches, they’re exchanging crime plans.

The Com Breakdown

  • Hacker Com: These are the tech wizards who break into systems for fun, profit, or to make a point. Think of them as the “keyboard warriors” with a cause… usually a nefarious one.
  • IRL Com: These folks take their skills offline, mingling real-world tactics with cyber shenanigans. They might use your online info to cause trouble in the physical world.
  • Extortion Com: The name says it all. They’re not after your lunch money; they want cold hard cash (or Bitcoin) in exchange for not leaking your private data.

How to Outsmart The Com

To keep these digital delinquents at bay, the FBI has some sage advice:

  1. Think Before You Click: Be cautious about what you share online. That vacation photo might also include your home address or other personal tidbits.

  2. Privacy Settings Are Your BFF: Tighten up those social media settings so that only your friends (and not the whole internet) can see your posts.

  3. Stranger Danger: Treat friend requests from strangers like unsolicited hugs—just say no!

  4. Kids and the Internet: Keep an eye on what your kids are doing online. The internet is not just cat videos and memes; it’s also a playground for predators.

  5. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This is like locking your door and then putting a chair under the doorknob. Use it on everything you can.

  6. No to Phishy Messages: If someone emails or texts asking for your password or a code, don’t respond. Instead, call the company directly using a verified number.

  7. Keep Your Financial Info Private: Bragging about your crypto stash online is like showing off your wallet in a room full of pickpockets.

What If You’re a Victim?

If you find yourself ensnared in The Com’s web, here’s what to do:

  • Emergency? Call 911! If it’s a life-threatening situation, don’t hesitate to dial those three magic numbers.
  • Mental Health Support: Feeling overwhelmed? Reach out to a mental health professional who can help you navigate these choppy waters.
  • Take It Down: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers a service to help remove explicit content involving minors. Check out Take It Down.
  • Report the Crime: Gather all evidence and report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. You can also contact your local FBI field office or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Stay vigilant, folks! The digital world is a wild west of its own, but with a little caution, you can keep The Com at arm’s length.

For the original article, visit FBI’s Consumer Protection Advisory.

Original article: https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250723-3