Young Canadians Recruited by ‘The Com’ Cybercrime Gang
Picture this: young people, barely out of their teens, are being lured into a shadowy world of high-stakes cybercrime—not for thrills, but for cold, hard cash and online clout. Across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., a hacking collective known as “The Com” is recruiting and exploiting young men, turning them into digital outlaws who wreak havoc with shocking skill.
The Com: Where Cybercrime Meets Street Gang Culture
Cybersecurity experts are sounding the alarm. “These attacks are conducted by 17, 20, 19-year-olds,” says Ian Lin, director of research and development at Calgary-based Packetlabs. “I think researchers like us don’t give them enough credit for what they’re actually capable of doing.”
The Com isn’t just about hacking. Its members are linked to major data breaches, sextortion, and corporate ransom payments worth millions. Cyberthreat intelligence firm Intel471 notes that groups within The Com have engaged in everything from SIM swapping and cryptocurrency theft to commissioning real-life violence and swatting—false emergency calls that send SWAT teams to a target’s home.
Exploitation and Manipulation: A Toxic Online Playground
What makes The Com especially dangerous? Its members are native English speakers who understand local culture and know how to manipulate people. The RCMP warns that these groups are even manipulating children online, pushing them toward self-harm, animal cruelty, and producing child sexual exploitation material.
Allison Nixon, chief research officer at U.S. cybersecurity firm Unit 221B, recently helped unmask an alleged Canadian member of The Com who is now facing extradition to the U.S. on 20 criminal charges. Nixon says she knows of other Canadian members but keeps details under wraps to avoid tipping off law enforcement.
Why Do Young People Join The Com?
For some, it’s about quick money. For others, it’s about seeking protection or lashing out after being victimized themselves. “Another reason why people join The Com is because they think it’s cool,” Nixon explains. “People may join seeking fame or infamy, which is really the same thing to them.”
The culture within The Com is toxic, Nixon says. Members boast about their crimes to boost their online notoriety. “In The Com, the culture prioritizes clout and respect and how big are you compared to everybody else,” she adds. “Your respect, your clout, is tied to subjugation of others.”
Social Engineering: The Com’s Secret Weapon
Members of The Com are masters of social engineering—using psychological tricks to manipulate people into giving up sensitive information. “As these criminal groups are getting more information on people, they’re able to tailor-make these phishing exploits, they can make them more precise and sound more legitimate,” says Scott White, a former CSIS and Canadian Forces intelligence officer.
White, now a cybersecurity professor at The George Washington University, explains how anxiety is often the key motivator. “If I were to call you and say, ‘I’m with the Toronto Police Service, I know your name, I know your telephone number, I know where you live,’ all of a sudden, you’re entering into a conversation with someone you perceive to be legitimate,” he says.
Law Enforcement Fights Back
Judges and law enforcement are finally catching up. “They’re treating them like street gangs in the more recent cases,” Nixon notes. The RCMP and other agencies are ramping up efforts to track and arrest members, but the challenge remains daunting.
A Growing Threat with Real-World Consequences
The Com is more than just an online menace. Its members have been accused of commissioning violence, provoking swatting incidents, and even paying people to attack rivals’ homes. Nixon likens The Com to “pre-internet teenage street gangs,” but with a digital twist.
As the threat grows, experts urge vigilance. Young Canadians are at risk, but with awareness and strong law enforcement, there’s hope for turning the tide against this toxic, dangerous online culture.
