6) The Streamer Who Scammed His Own Fans to Feed a Dark Addiction

He wasn’t the biggest streamer in the world. But he was trusted. Relatable. Kind of funny in a chaotic way. So when he said his bank account was frozen, people helped. Streamers. Fans. Mods. Viewers. Strangers. They sent money—thousands of dollars at a time. Some emptied their savings. Others took out loans. He said he’d pay them back. But he never did.

This is the story of how a Twitch streamer named ItsSliker manipulated hundreds of people—including his own community—to fund a gambling addiction that spiraled into a scandal worth over $200,000 and nearly got gambling banned on Twitch forever.

Born as Abraham Mohammed, the UK-based Twitch streamer “ItsSliker” wasn’t your typical platform star. He wasn’t a polished gamer or a flashy influencer. His charm was his chaos. The guy was unpredictable, emotional, and raw. He got popular for his appearances on shows like Rajj Royale—now known as AustinShow—where he clashed with other creators and made people laugh with his unfiltered takes. He eventually built a loyal audience with Just Chatting streams. But underneath the stream overlays, a dark obsession was taking root: online sports betting. Specifically, betting on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) matches. It started small—ten dollars here, fifty there—but it didn’t stop. The stakes kept rising. And soon, he wasn’t gambling with his own money anymore.

It began like this: Sliker would message someone in his community—a viewer, a friend, a fellow streamer—and say something like, “My bank account’s frozen. I can’t access my funds. Can you spot me $1,000 until next week? I’ll pay you back 100%.” To many, he was just a dude in trouble. A friendly streamer who had supported them, made them laugh, even followed them back. So they helped. Over time, dozens of people came forward saying they had sent money.

Streamers like xQc, Mizkif, Trainwreckstv, and Lukeafkfan all reported being asked—or watching their fans be asked—for loans. Some viewers reported sending $10,000. Others went further. One Reddit user said they gave Sliker $45,000—nearly all of their life savings. At first, no one knew the scale. Victims were isolated, embarrassed, unsure if they were alone. But Reddit threads began surfacing. DMs were compared. Stories matched. And the truth came out. Sliker had scammed over $200,000 from more than 60 people over the course of two years.

On September 18, 2022, Sliker went live with a shaky camera, puffy eyes, and a trembling voice. “I’m not gonna lie. I scammed people,” he said. “I have a gambling addiction.” He admitted everything: the fake stories, the lies, the mounting debt. He said he never intended to hurt people but couldn’t stop himself from gambling. It was a full-blown addiction.

News platforms covered the emotional fallout and community shock. Twitch fans were devastated. Not just because of the money—but because someone they trusted betrayed them. “You preyed on your fans,” one Redditor wrote. “People who believed in you. You used that trust to feed a demon and left them broken.”

The Sliker confession caused an earthquake on Twitch. Top creators like Ludwig, Mizkif, and xQc responded publicly. Some were furious. Others heartbroken. But Ludwig and xQc made a bold move: they pledged to personally pay back the victims, with no guarantee of reimbursement. “It’s not even about Sliker anymore,” Ludwig said. “It’s about the platform. What kind of environment allows this?”

The scandal fueled a firestorm around Twitch’s gambling problem. For years, Twitch had allowed streamers to broadcast gambling content from crypto casinos like Stake.com. Many argued it normalized dangerous behavior—especially among young, impressionable viewers. Now, with a real scam linked to gambling? The gloves came off. Pokimane, HasanAbi, and Trainwreckstv demanded Twitch take action. Weeks later, Twitch banned unlicensed gambling streams. The Sliker scandal didn’t just shake viewers. It changed the platform forever.

Today, Sliker is barely visible online. He hasn’t returned the money. He hasn’t rebuilt trust. His name is a cautionary tale. But his story isn’t just about a streamer who scammed his fans. It’s a window into the dangerous intersection of parasocial trust and addiction. Reddit threads documenting the fallout show the emotional devastation: fans who fell into depression, friendships ruined, even people questioning their self-worth for being “gullible.” Gambling addiction affects millions—and online content culture can fuel it in silence. It’s hidden, disguised as fun, and devastating. “I didn’t want to believe he scammed me,” one victim wrote. “But when I saw his apology, I just broke down. I lost more than money—I lost trust in people.”

So what can you learn from this? Whether you’re a fan, a creator, or someone battling their own demons—there are four clear takeaways. Never loan money to an online personality—especially privately. Even if you’ve supported them for years, remember: influence is not integrity. Parasocial bonds can cloud judgment. Just because someone interacts with you online doesn’t mean they value you the same way you value them. Recognize signs of compulsive behavior early. If someone repeatedly asks for money, makes excuses, or “forgets” to repay—set boundaries. Protect your money. Don’t keep digital assets unverified. Use password managers. Avoid financial decisions based on emotional manipulation. And if you are struggling with gambling, there’s help. You’re not alone. Reach out before it spirals.

The story of ItsSliker is a reminder that even in a world filled with hype and humor, addiction can hide in plain sight—and trust can be weaponized. But what happens when the music fades and there’s nothing left? In our next episode, we uncover how Nate Dogg died broke—despite 20 platinum records. Click here to learn how one of hip-hop’s most iconic voices lost everything.