15 December 2023 , 07:52
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Anyone using jailbroken-style Fire TV Sticks to watch Sky TV for free are being warned that UK Police may now have their names. That warning has been issued after a fresh crackdown on illegal streaming saw two people arrested and a number of adapted TV devices seized.
The investigation, which was led by led by ERSOU, came after the discovery that unauthorised Sky TV packages were being sold to consumers. This basically allows homes to watch premium channels such as Sky Sports and Cinema without paying any monthly subscription fees.
It’s thought the team behind the illegal activity had managed to sell thousands of pre-loaded Fire TV Sticks netting them over £800,000.
Along with being arrested on suspicion of fraud, money laundering, and intellectual property offences, police also seized a list of names of people who had purchased them. That could mean some now face a knock at the door asking them to stop using the devices or risk prosecution.
Speaking about the latest crackdown Detective Inspector Steve Payne, from ERSOU’s Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “Yesterday’s arrests form part of an investigation into a sophisticated large-scale criminal operation which has generated significant sums of money through the illicit sale of TV subscription packages.
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“We have also gained access to the details of those purchasing the streams, and I would remind anyone doing so that they will be breaking the law and could ultimately be subject to criminal proceedings.”
Along with being highly illegal, police are also warning that end users could be putting themselves at risk of cyber crime with unofficial streams and devices often coming loaded with>