Special Report: Attacked Without Warning

They never see it coming. A man thrown to the ground, another victim kicked and punched by a young woman.

These sneak attacks may be scary to you, but they're entertaining to others. The fights are videotaped and sold. There are now two DVDs called "Boston Beatdown."

Between the blows, you'll find testimonials. Many by members of a shadowy group called F.S.U.

Sergeant Bob Martin, Portland Police Dept.
"It’s definitely something to be afraid of."

Sergeant Bob Martin of the Portland, Maine police has his own tape of FSU. This one they didn't make themselves. Keep your eye on the top of your screen. a man who just left a bar is hit by a bottle

Sergeant Bob Martin, Portland Police Dept.
"The beer bottle was broke over his head and when he turned around to try to defend himself the person jabbed at him."

After the attack, these two known F.S.U. members were arrested

Here in Boston, police reports list F.S.U. members as suspects in several assaults including one outside this bar in Brighton. The victim was slammed by a padlock tied to a piece of clothing.

Paul Fitzgerald, Boston Police Dept.
"A firearm can kill so can a cue ball in a sock."

So who are these guys armed with homemade weapons and video camera? Well, let's start with the name – F.S.U. Some say it just means Friends Stand United. But one founding member says not quite.

Despite the graphic name, another member, who wouldn't show his face says F.S.U is getting a bum rap.

"We're not like a gang - - we're not pushing drug turf or doing drive by shootings or things like."

In fact, the group has its own business cards and some members claim the gang is a sort of charity offering scholarships to Boston-area universities, even hosting fundraisers to help their members' kids. To check out the claim, 7News traveled to a New Jersey nightclub where the group says they were throwing a benefit.

F.S.U. refused to allow our cameras inside and would only speak to us outside... again as long as we didn't show their faces.

"We're not out to be bad guys. We're out to do something good and I hope that people can see that."

Police don’t. Officers in Portland say this attack is one of many they're seeing where innocent victims are being seriously hurt.