DRPS warns Durham parents about online predator network 'The Com'

The Durham Regional Police Service is warning parents, caregivers and community members about an emerging online threat involving coordinated groups known as "The Com," short for "The Community," that target children and youth aged eight to 17. Police say the groups operate across popular platforms including Discord, Telegram, Snapchat, Roblox, Minecraft, Twitch and Steam, and that officers have recently responded to a number of Durham incidents believed to be linked to the network.

According to DRPS, The Com is a network of online predators that uses grooming, manipulation, coercion and intimidation to exploit young people — behaviour that can lead to violent or criminal activity. Offenders build trust, create secrecy through fear or shame, and pressure victims into harmful acts, while shared images or content are used to increase humiliation and control, police say.

DRPS is urging parents to watch for clusters of warning signs — including secretive device use, withdrawal, mood changes, declining school performance, use of encrypted apps without parental knowledge, and new online contacts a child seems unusually attached to or afraid of. Police advise having open conversations about online safety, keeping access to children's accounts, saving screenshots and messages without confronting anyone, and reporting concerns to the DRPS non-emergency line at 1-888-579-1520, or calling 911 in an emergency.