Child 'sexploitation' case sees an Australian man accused of blackmailing girls into sex acts online


Sick child ‘sexploitation’ case sees Australian man accused of blackmailing 285 girls as young as 11 into performing sex acts online – after posing as a social media star

  • Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed, 25, has been charged with 317 offences 
  • Australian authorities alerted in 2020 by US Homeland Security and Interpol 
  • He allegedly blackmailed hundreds of girls into providing explicit material 

A Perth man pretended to be a social media celebrity as he blackmailed 285 girls as young as 11 into providing sexually explicit material, police allege. 

Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed, 25, has been charged with 317 offences after Australian authorities were tipped off by United States Homeland Security investigators and Interpol. 

He allegedly befriended girls online, both in Australia and overseas, and edited screen grabs of their online chats to include sexual content – which he then threatened to send to the girls’ family and friends unless they provided explicit pictures and videos. 

Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed (pictured), 25, has been charged with 317 offences

Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed (pictured), 25, has been charged with 317 offences 

He will front court on Friday, as the joint investigation by Australian Federal Police and West Australian Police continues. 

Investigators identified 112 alleged victims after the tip-off in 2020 before further examination of his electronic devices allegedly revealed hundreds more victims. 

‘The review is ongoing and police have not ruled out laying more charges.’ a police spokesperson said on Friday. 

Police alleged in one incident he pretended to be a 15-year-old boy and began communicating with a 13-year-old girl in the United States. 

He allegedly sent her edited screen grabs of their chat to blackmail her – forcing her to undress and perform sexual acts online while he and others watched.  

Girls as young as 11 were among the victims, police allege. 

Mr Rasheed was taken into custody and charged with multiple counts of compelling a victim to engage in sexual behaviour and performing acts in preparation for sexual activity with a person under-16, along with multiple charges of using a carriage service to menace or harass. 

Investigators seized his electronic devices (pictured) after being alerted by US Homeland Security and Interpol

Investigators seized his electronic devices (pictured) after being alerted by US Homeland Security and Interpol 

AFP detective senior constable Barrry Duman said the case highlighted the need for parents to communicate with their children about online safety and to never reveal personal information to someone they have never met in person. 

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