Australian Man Sentenced for Global Sextortion Scheme

Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed, a 29-year-old man from Australia, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for orchestrating one of the country's most severe sextortion schemes, affecting 286 victims from over 20 nations, including many children under 16. Posing as a 15-year-old American YouTuber, he manipulated victims into performing sexual acts by threatening to expose explicit content to their loved ones. Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner David McLean described Rasheed's actions as displaying a 'callous disregard' for the suffering of his victims, which included live-streaming some extortion attempts. Judge Amanda Burrows emphasized the unprecedented scale of Rasheed's offenses, marking this case as one of the most horrific in Australian legal history. The court noted that many victims expressed feelings of distress and suicidal thoughts due to his exploitation. Rasheed's sentencing reflects a growing concern over online child exploitation and the devastating impact of such crimes.