• Global Crackdown on 764 Inferno: Two alleged ringleaders of the disturbing online cult 764 Inferno, known as “Trippy” and “War,” have been arrested for orchestrating a child exploitation network that targeted vulnerable teens worldwide.
• Shocking Abuse and Grooming Tactics: The group coerced minors into self-harm, creating abuse material, and even participating in violent acts, including suicide and animal cruelty, using encrypted platforms like Telegram and Discord.
• Public Outcry and Urgent Calls for Action: Families of victims, investigators, and experts are demanding stronger safeguards from social media companies and faster action from law enforcement to combat such predatory networks.

In a sweeping international crackdown, two young men have been arrested and charged for allegedly leading one of the most horrifying online child exploitation rings ever uncovered. Known by their online aliases “Trippy” and “War,” the pair are accused of masterminding a disturbing digital cult called 764 Inferno—a secretive, invite-only network where depravity was currency and the exploitation of vulnerable teens was a daily reality.

Authorities say the group targeted children around the world, grooming them into performing acts of self-harm, creating explicit content, and even participating in gruesome violence against animals—and in the most tragic cases, taking their own lives.

Two Alleged Cult Leaders Brought Down

Twenty-year-old Prasan Nepal, who went by “Trippy,” was apprehended in North Carolina. His alleged co-leader, 21-year-old Leonidas Varagiannis, known online as “War,” was arrested across the globe in Greece. Police claim the duo were at the helm of 764 Inferno, a shadowy offshoot of the broader 764 network, where the most dedicated and dangerous members operated under strict secrecy on encrypted platforms like Telegram and Discord.

Investigators believe at least eight minors were directly exploited by the pair—some as young as 13. But experts fear the real number could be far higher.

“The evidence is horrifying,” said an online investigator named Becca, who has spent years tracking the group and sharing findings with law enforcement. Her identity remains concealed for her safety, but her warnings have long sounded the alarm.

Victims and Families Cry Out for Justice

The nightmare came to light in part through the efforts of CBC’s The Fifth Estate, which began probing 764 in 2023. What they uncovered was global and deeply personal.

One of the survivors, a young Canadian named Trinity, initially contacted police back in 2021, reporting the abuse she endured at the hands of 764 members. Her case appeared to stall—until the FBI came knocking in 2024. She handed over a list of usernames. On it: “Trippy.”

Trinity and her mother have chosen not to speak out now, focusing instead on healing. But the pain lingers.

Another Canadian parent, still grieving the loss of his 15-year-old daughter who died by suicide after two years of grooming by the group, spoke candidly. He believes police ignored his early warnings. Now, he is being harassed online, possibly by those still active in the network.

“I missed the signs,” he admitted, describing his guilt over not recognizing his daughter’s self-harming as cries for help. “That’s what eats away at me. It was happening right in front of me.”

A Sinister Legacy Born from a Texas Teen’s Idea

The story of 764 began in 2020, founded by a then-15-year-old Bradley Cadenhead in Texas. The group’s name references the 764 area code of his hometown, but what began as an obscure online clique quickly turned into something much more sinister.

Cadenhead was arrested in 2021 and later sentenced to 80 years in prison. Yet, rather than crumbling, the group evolved.

That’s when Prasan Nepal reportedly stepped up. By August 2021, he had seized control. Police say his leadership turned 764 into a more organized and insidious operation, creating “guides” to teach new members how to manipulate emotionally vulnerable girls into producing disturbing content.

One such message, sent by Nepal himself on May 27, 2024, instructed followers to infiltrate online self-harm communities. He outlined a chilling grooming tactic: approach victims as friends, then seduce them by romanticizing their pain.

This wasn’t just about coercion. It was ritualistic. Members often forced girls to carve usernames into their skin, photograph it, and share it with the group. These horrifying images were compiled into so-called “lorebooks”—grim trophies used to earn status within the cult.

The Global Hunt for 764

Experts say this group stood out not only for its brutal content but also because of the age of its members—many of whom were minors themselves. In a disturbing twist, young people were often both victims and perpetrators.

According to Becca, the arrests are monumental. She believes they’ve struck at the heart of 764’s operations. Nepal, in particular, was seen as the group’s engine—relentlessly building new channels, shifting to new platforms each time previous ones were shut down.

“He was the glue holding it all together,” Becca explained. “Taking him down is a major blow.”

Inside the network’s online forums, panic has reportedly spread since the arrests. Members are scrambling. That’s exactly the kind of reaction Becca hoped for.

Still, experts caution that dismantling one part of 764 doesn’t mean the fight is over. The group has splintered into smaller cells, many of which are still active.

Ties to Global Violence and Extremism

The Fifth Estate uncovered more chilling details about 764’s wider impact. In recent years, several violent crimes—including a school shooting in Nashville, knife attacks in Sweden, and even a brutal murder in Romania—have been linked to people affiliated with 764 or similar extremist groups.

Authorities in Italy recently foiled a plot by a 764 member preparing to kill vulnerable individuals. In the UK and U.S., law enforcement has disrupted other deadly schemes tied to this disturbing digital underworld.

The RCMP’s counterterrorism unit now leads Canadian investigations into 764 and issued a rare national warning last August. Two Canadians connected to the network have been arrested so far. The agency declined to comment further, citing the sensitivity of ongoing international operations.

Parents Call for Action—and Accountability

As the case unfolds, more families are stepping forward. One mother, whose daughter also fell victim to the group, said she believes the arrests could finally stop others from being hurt.

“This has to be a wake-up call,” she said. “Not just to the predators, but to the platforms enabling them.”

Parents, mental health experts, and investigators are now united in one message: online spaces must become safer for children. The speed and sophistication of these predators far outpaces current protections.

The grieving Canadian father says he’s now working to raise awareness and pressure social media companies to act. “We’re up against something that evolves faster than we do,” he said. “And we’re paying for that with our kids’ lives.”

A Long Road Ahead for Justice

Nepal and Varagiannis are both facing severe charges. If convicted, they each face a minimum of 20 years behind bars—with the possibility of life in prison.

But for the victims and their families, the legal outcome is only one part of the story. Many are still picking up the pieces of shattered childhoods and mourning the lives that can never be brought back.

The hope now is that this dark chapter may finally be closing—and that those who once hid behind usernames will be forced to confront the human cost of their cruelty.