A West Australian man is scheduled to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court today (23 May, 2025) charged with allegedly posing as a juvenile to sexually exploit children into sending him intimate images.
The Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) - comprising investigators from the AFP and WA Police Force - charged the man, 20, on 30 April, 2025.
An investigation began in October, 2024, when the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), regarding an Australian user of an instant messaging platform lying about his age when interacting with children.
AFP investigators allegedly linked the man to the account and executed a search warrant at his Carramar home on 2 April, 2025, seizing a mobile phone and desktop computer.
Forensic examination of the devices allegedly found evidence the man lied about his age on an instant messaging platform, then engaged in sexually explicit conversations with three girls under 16.
Police also allege that when the victims sent the man intimate images, he tried to manipulate them into sending more. He also allegedly threatened to screenshot the images sent by one girl when she refused his demands.
The man was charged with:
- One count of use a carriage service to cause child abuse material to be transmitted to himself, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment; and
- Two counts of use a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.27A of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment.
AFP Inspector Shona Davis said the AFP and its partners remained fiercely committed to the protection of children from online harm but also appealed for help from parents and carers to keep young people safe.
"There are potential dangers associated with children using online platforms, apps and games, so they need to be reminded to never reveal personal information to anyone they communicate with online,'' Insp Davis said.
"Because they are manipulative predators, offenders can quickly coerce or threaten children into engaging in sexualised conversations or behaviour.
"Supervision can not only prevent an incident from happening but can also be critical for adults in taking swift action if they need to alert law enforcement.
"If your child has been targeted or harmed in an online forum, reassure them it's not their fault and there is help available - children and young people are never to blame for being a victim of online child sexual exploitation."
Sextortion is a form of online blackmail where offenders trick or coerce someone into sending sexual images of themselves, before threatening to share the images unless their demands are met. These demands could be for money, gift cards or more graphic content.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
