A 29-year-old Australian man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for his role in a massive global sextortion scheme that targeted hundreds of victims, including children as young as 12, in 20 countries.
Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed, who pleaded guilty to 119 charges, used social media to pose as a famous teenage YouTuber and gain the trust of his victims. He would then blackmail them into providing explicit content, using manipulated screenshots and threats to coerce them into complying with his demands.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched an investigation into Rasheed’s activities in 2019, in coordination with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and INTERPOL. The investigation revealed that Rasheed had targeted at least 180 children under the age of 16, as well as many adults, using his online persona to exploit and manipulate them.
Rasheed’s methods were particularly sinister, involving the use of countdown timers and threats to share explicit content with the victim’s friends and family unless they complied with his demands. In some cases, he forced victims to engage in distressing and degrading acts, including those involving family pets or other young children.
During sentencing, the judge described Rasheed’s offenses as “degrading, humiliating, and abhorrent,” and noted that his participation in online communities that promote misogynistic views and the exploitation of women was particularly concerning.
The AFP assistant commissioner emphasized the sadistic nature of Rasheed’s actions, stating that his “callous disregard for his victims’ obvious distress, humiliation, and fear made it one of the most horrific sextortion cases prosecuted in Australia.”
Rasheed will be eligible for parole in 2033, and the AFP has shared information about other offenders in contact with him with law enforcement agencies in multiple countries, as part of its ongoing efforts to combat online sexual exploitation.
