The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a public safety alert this week, warning about Hacker Com, a sophisticated cybercriminal network that represents one of three subsets of a growing online threat ecosystem known as “The Com” or “The Community.”
This primarily English-speaking, international network comprises multiple interconnected groups whose members—many of whom are minors—engage in various criminal activities ranging from cryptocurrency theft to physical extortion.
According to the FBI alert released July 23, 2025, Hacker Com represents a broad community of technically sophisticated cybercriminals, some with direct links to ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) groups.
These actors sell technical services for profit and leverage their capabilities to steal cryptocurrency, which they use to fund additional criminal enterprises.
The group’s criminal activities span a wide range of cybercrimes, including distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, compromise of personally identifiable information, sale of government email accounts, ransomware attacks, phishing campaigns, malware development and deployment, cryptocurrency theft, computer intrusions, and SIM swapping.
To facilitate these operations while concealing their identities, members employ sophisticated tools including remote access trojans, phishing kits, voice modulators, virtual private networks, spoofing technology, and encrypted email domains.
Cryptocurrency theft serves as the primary motivator
For many Com actors, creating a volatile environment often leads to internal conflicts where members become targets of their criminal tactics.
The FBI reports that notoriety and status within Hacker Com groups derive from members’ skill sets and account balances, with participants frequently bragging about profits from cryptocurrency thefts that sometimes exceed millions of dollars.
Particularly concerning is the emergence of what the FBI calls “In Real Life (IRL) Com,” which facilitates real-world acts of violence stemming from online conflicts.
This escalation has led to physical extortion involving kidnapping, torture, threats against family members, and firearm use.
Additionally, some members participate in “Extortion Com,” which primarily targets minors—typically females—through threats of doxing, swatting, and real-world violence.
The FBI notes that some Com subgroups offer swat-for-hire services via communication applications and social media platforms
These swatting services help divert attention during cryptocurrency thefts or corporate intrusions, with the relative ease of arrangement making it an attractive retaliation option.
For individuals who may be victims of these crimes, the FBI recommends immediately contacting account providers to regain control, changing passwords, and placing alerts on accounts for suspicious activity.
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