People who use “dodgy” Fire TV Sticks to illegally stream TV shows, sports fixtures and films have been warned they could face harsh penalties amid widespread police raids as part of a two-week crackdown.
The two-week operation, led by a number of police forces and anti piracy body Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), is seeing officers raid properties in several counties across areas including London, Cheshire, Kent, Sussex, Norfolk and Northamptonshire.
The move comes after Jonathan Edge was jailed last month for three years and four months after being faced with a private prosecution from the Premier League, having ignored his cease-and-desist warning.
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‘Fire Sticks’ are simple Amazon streaming devices which are modified by criminals to stream expensive TV services such as Premier League games for free, and are widely sold on the black market.
The current two-week crackdown is an aim to dismantle piracy operations, targeting suppliers of the devices.
As well as serving with cease-and-desist letters to people believed to be using ‘dodgy’ Fire Sticks, local police forces are carrying out raids in the following areas:-
The UK crackdown comes after people using the sticks were met with blank screens after a European crackdown.
Why is there a crackdown?
In a statement, FACT CEO Kieron Sharp said the organisation is aiming to “track down and shut down these illegal operations”.
He said: “Our cease-and-desist measures are not just warnings—they are the first step toward holding offenders accountable. Many who ignored these notices in the past are now facing arrest and criminal charges. We strongly advise anyone involved in these activities to stop immediately.
“If you’re supplying or using illicit streaming devices or illegal IPTV subscriptions, take this as a clear warning: you are breaking the law and risk facing serious consequences.”
He said FACT would continue to work with police to track down and shut down the operations, adding: “To those using illegal streaming services, the message is that you’re not just committing a crime; you are putting yourself at risk. These services often expose users to malware, scams, and data theft, with no recourse when things go wrong.
“The safest, smartest and only choice is to stick to legitimate providers for your entertainment.”
‘Hacked’ Fire Sticks allow access to illegal content (Getty)
In a similar crackdown, police across Europe targeted 102 suspects of whom 11 were arrested, who had pirated more than 2,500 channels including sports broadcasters.
The gang is believed to have made revenue of up to £208 million per month by selling the illegal devices.
What are the dangers of using a dodgy Fire Stick?
Dodgy Fire Sticks expose users to risks including malware, or computer viruses, which can infect devices – or other scams.
The dangers involved in using these devices are very real, says Jamie Akhtar, CEO and Co-founder of CyberSmart.
Akhtar says, “Dodgy fire Sticks are often modified using third-party software and unofficial apps, which lack the rigorous security measures of legitimate platforms. Users inadvertently expose themselves to malware, spyware, and backdoors embedded within these unauthorised applications.”
The Federation Against Copyright Theft say that 2.7 million devices have been infected with viruses as a result of using such services, and 32% of users have found themselves victims of fraud.
The risks involved include criminals being able to ‘take over’ devices including webcams in the home, or steal banking details.
Akhtar added: “Once installed, malicious software can collect personal information, monitor activity, or even provide remote access to cybercriminals.
“Consumers must be aware of the hidden risks associated with dodgy Fire Sticks, recognising that the appeal of free content comes with significant potential costs.”
What are the punishments?
In the current crackdown, police issued cease-and-desist orders to multiple suppliers of the devices, and arrested people including a 42-year-old man in Newport, Wales.
In practice, police tend not to target users of the devices, but target sellers.
Jonathan Edge, a 29-year-old father from Liverpool was sentenced to three years and four months in prison in November for a cash-in-hand service where he loaded illegal software onto Fire Sticks.
In another recent case, Kevin O’Donnell, a 41-year-old father from Croxteth was caught for promoting and selling illegally modified Fire Sticks, and was given a two-year suspended sentence.
Read more
Man jailed over ‘dodgy Firesticks’ (Evening Standard)
IP addresses of Firestick users ‘could be passed on’, authorities warn (Yahoo News)
