When federal prosecutors revealed the horrific details of “Greggy’s Cult” an online sextortion ring that targeted children as young as 11, coerced them into creating sexual abuse material, and in some cases encouraged them to commit suicide it sent a shockwave through every parent’s heart.
And it should.
This case is one of the clearest and most disturbing reminders that online exploitation doesn’t look like the stranger-danger we were taught to fear. Today’s predators hide behind gaming platforms, group chats, and anonymous accounts. They study the vulnerabilities of children and use psychology, technology, and coercion as their weapons.
But parents are not powerless.
And survivors are never without options for justice.
What Happened: A Look at the Greggy’s Cult Case
According to federal filings, members of “Greggy’s Cult” created an online network where they targeted minors through gaming platforms and social apps using fake identities, friendship-building tactics, manipulation, and threats.
They allegedly:
- Coerced children into producing sexual abuse material
- Recorded and circulated this material within the group
- Extorted victims for more content
- Encouraged some children to self-harm or attempt suicide
- Targeted kids experiencing loneliness, depression, or instability
- Exploited platforms where parents often believe their children are “just playing” or “just chatting”
This is the reality of modern child exploitation: organized, sophisticated, patient, and predatory.
But it is also preventable.
How Parents Can Protect Their Children Online.
Parents often tell me, “I don’t even know where to start.” And that’s fair. Technology evolves faster than any of us can keep up with. But you don’t need to be a cyber expert to make your child safer.
Here are concrete, trauma-informed, actionable steps every parent can implement immediately.
1. Normalize Conversations About Online Life
Kids don’t want lectures. They want to be believed, supported, and not judged.
Try:
- “Who did you play with today?”
- “Anyone new show up in your chats?”
- “Did anything online make you uncomfortable or confused?”
The goal is comfort, not interrogation. Shame is the #1 reason children don’t disclose exploitation.
2. Explain Grooming and Online Manipulation in Age-Appropriate Ways
Predators aren’t usually “scary monsters.” They’re friendly voices. Helpful players. Supportive strangers.
Kids need to know:
- Some people online pretend to be their age.
- No one has the right to ask for pictures ever.
- Threats, bribes, and secrecy are grooming tactics.
- They can come to you even if they think they’ve “done something wrong.”
This one conversation alone can stop a predator in their tracks.
3. Lock Down Privacy Settings and Review Them Monthly
Platforms change defaults constantly.
Make sure:
- Chats are locked
- Friend requests require approval
- No private messaging with strangers
- Screen time and activity logs are visible to you
- Gaming consoles restrict communication from unknown accounts
This isn’t about surveillance.
It’s about safety.
4. Watch for Behavioral Red Flags
Kids rarely say, “I’m being groomed.”
They show it:
- Sudden secrecy about devices
- Mood shifts after gaming or messaging
- Nighttime or hidden online activity
- New anxiety, fear, or withdrawal
- Saying they “have to” reply to someone
Trust your instincts. Parents usually sense the change before they understand the cause.
5. Report Suspicious Activity Immediately
If your child receives a threat, request for images, coercion attempt, or extortion message:
- Screenshot everything
- Do not delete chat logs
- Contact local law enforcement
- File a CyberTipline report at missingkids.org
- Consider contacting a civil attorney who specializes in child exploitation cases
The faster you act, the easier it is to intervene and preserve evidence.
How Civil Litigation Helps Survivors Reclaim Their Lives
Criminal charges hold perpetrators accountable.
Civil litigation holds systems accountable: platforms, enablers, institutions, or individuals whose negligence allowed the abuse to occur.
When we represent child victims and their families, we often hear the same thing:
“We just want answers and change. We want to make sure no child goes through what ours did.”
Civil lawsuits can:
✔ Provide financial resources for therapy, treatment, and long-term recovery
Trauma from online exploitation can last decades. Civil damages help ensure survivors get support now and later in life.
✔ Expose failures in platforms or institutions
If apps, moderators, or companies ignored red flags—or failed to implement safeguards—civil litigation can force them to change.
✔ Shine a light on the methods predators use
Public awareness saves lives. Civil filings often uncover what criminal cases don’t.
✔ Give survivors agency and a voice
Legal action can be part of the healing process. Survivors deserve justice in every form available.
Our Message to Parents
It’s painful to accept, but online exploitation is happening in every community, across every demographic, in every school and neighborhood. Cases like Greggy’s Cult are extreme, but they are not isolated.
Your vigilance, openness, and willingness to talk with your child may be the one thing that stops a predator from gaining access.
And if harm has already occurred
You are not alone, nor is your child. There is help, accountability, and justice.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we stand with survivors and their families.
We pursue civil justice not only to compensate and support victims, but to force institutions and online platforms to create safer environments for every child.
If you believe your child was targeted, coerced, or exploited online, we are here to listen, guide, and act.