Aussies are falling for this friendly-looking pokies scam—you might be next

Australia’s laid-back friendliness is part of what makes life here feel welcoming and easygoing.

But what if that warmth could be weaponised—turned against you by someone pretending to be a mate?

A new wave of text scams is doing exactly that, catching Aussies off guard with messages that feel familiar, casual…and dangerously convincing.

The messages start innocuously, often with a cheerful ‘oi mate’ or a ‘true blue’ greeting.

Scammers are now using artificial intelligence to craft texts that sound strikingly like a genuine Aussie friend.

Telstra recently warned that these messages exploit our trust by weaving in local slang and casual conversational tones.

A typical text might read: ‘Oi mate, you still playin’ the pokies? I found this new site today, grabbed a free $99.99 and hit a massive win straight up. Fair dinkum, it’s unreal!’

The text usually ends with a suspicious link or an instruction to ‘reply 5 to unlock,’ both designed to reel victims into the scam.

How the Scam Works

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) classifies these as betting and gambling scams—an especially deceptive form of investment fraud.

What makes them so effective is their exploitation of natural trust and familiarity.

Scammers can spoof phone numbers and sender IDs, even inserting fake messages into your legitimate message threads.

The use of AI to craft authentic-sounding Australian slang makes these scams far more believable than the poorly written texts of the past.

The Cost of Text Scams

In 2023, over 109,000 text messages were found to be misleading—a 37 per cent increase on the year before.

Australians lost roughly $26.9 million due to these scam texts alone.

Investment scams, including pokies schemes, are now costing more than any other type of fraud, contributing up to AU$3,800 lost every hour, according to the Australian Federal Police.

Scammers build trust by showing fake data or allowing small withdrawals, only to block access when victims attempt larger amounts.

This ‘mate’ tactic mirrors the earlier ‘hi mum’ scam, where scammers impersonated family members claiming urgent phone issues.

Spotting the Red Flags

Australians lost $2.6 million to ‘hi mum’ scams in 2024, with over 1,150 victims falling prey.

The pokies scam evolves this approach—exploiting casual mateship rather than parental concern.

If you receive a suspicious message, ACCC advises: delete it immediately, don’t click links or reply with numbers, contact the supposed sender via a known number, report it to Scamwatch, and contact your bank if you’ve shared personal information.

Government agencies, including the ACMA, have made disrupting SMS scams a priority for 2024-25.

Collaboration between multiple agencies is ongoing, but awareness remains the most effective defence.

Why Some Are More at Risk

Seniors may be particularly vulnerable due to greater trust in personal messages, less familiarity with scams, larger savings, or social isolation.

Understanding the tactics and sharing warnings with friends and family helps protect the community.

The ‘oi mate’ pokies scam represents a troubling new low—turning the friendliness that defines Australian culture into a trap.

If you want to see another real-life example of how gambling scams can target unsuspecting people, there’s a story that highlights this issue in detail.

It shows how scammers are using similar tactics to exploit trust and lure victims into fake gambling schemes.

Reading about these cases can help you better recognise the warning signs and protect yourself from falling into the same trap.

Read more: 'Scambling' is an online gambling scam targeting First Nations communities

Have you received a message that seemed too friendly or too good to be true? Sharing your experience could help protect others in your community.