'Dodgy' Fire TV Stick crackdown: 'You could end up getting more than you bargained for,' police warn Britons

Mr Edge was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, in a prosecution supported by FACT and Merseyside Police. Mr Edge’s own use of the unauthorised streaming service was treated as a distinct crime, leading to a separate concurrent sentence of two years and three months.

While most police action focuses on those who are supplying the "dodgy" or "fully-loaded" set-top boxes, the additional sentence handed down to Mr Edge shows that those watching shows, sports, and films without paying — not just the suppliers — can also face criminal prosecution for illicit streaming.

During an investigation into Mr Edge and operators of another illegal streaming service (currently pending a criminal prosecution), Merseyside Police seized details of customers who had purchased access to so-called “loaded” Firesticks, Android, or Kodi devices. Those customers have now been contacted directly to warn them of the dangers of continuing to use illegal streaming services.

Detective Sergeant Adam Dagnall of Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit said: "Merseyside Police takes illegal streaming seriously because it often helps fund organised crime and puts users at real risk.

"Not only is it a criminal offence, but the unauthorised streaming services frequently contain malware that can compromise personal devices and lead to the loss of information such as banking details, or be used to commit identity fraud.

"Legitimate providers have security measures that protect users from these threats. Please don’t be tempted by cheap so-called ‘fully loaded’ or ‘jailbroken’ devices, even as Christmas gifts – you could end up getting more than you bargained for."

While there’s nothing illegal about owning a Fire TV Stick from Amazon, these devices are often sold preloaded with access to the likes of NOW, Netflix, Disney+, and Sky Sports for free. Others require a small monthly fee to access these services, which undercuts the standard subscription fee from Sky and Netflix.

These illegal Fire TV Sticks are not sold by Amazon or endorsed by any of the broadcasters.

Technically, the umbrella term for all of these devices and methods is IPTV, or Internet Protocol Television, which describes how the content is delivered via a broadband connection.

Of course, this doesn't necessarily imply anything illegal, Sky Stream is an IPTV device that offers legal access to Sky Sports, Sky Atlantic, Netflix, and more.

With the advent of easy-to-use streaming services, like Netflix and Spotify, piracy rates slumped. But with the spiralling number of services required to watch the most popular shows and subscription prices steadily increasing, the cost of living crisis has seen many individuals hunt for cheaper ways to access content.

Using these dodgy devices to stream copyrighted broadcasts, films, and popular TV shows is a breach of the law and can carry harsh penalties in the UK.

With the most talked-about shows spread thinly across a wide variety of streaming services, not to mention, the cost-of-living crisis causing families to tighten their budgets, it’s unsurprising that these illegal Fire TV Sticks remain popular. Almost one in four people in the UK (23%) have streamed content illegally in the last three months, according to figures published by YouGov in 2023.

Speaking about the latest campaign to message those who are known to have used illicit streaming services or gadgets, like so-called fully-loaded Fire TV Sticks, FACT chairman Kieron Sharp said: "This campaign makes it clear that end users of illegal streaming services are breaking the law.

"The risks are real, from potential criminal liability to exposure to scams, viruses, and harmful content. We urge people to protect themselves and their families by only using legitimate providers."

FACT has spearheaded a new awareness campaign, known as Be Stream Wise, with respected brands from the film, TV and sports industry – including the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Crimestoppers, Sky, British Association for Screen Entertainment (Base), Premier League, and ITV.

It's designed to educate people about the pitfalls of illegal streams.

Illegal Fire TV Sticks and sites offering free access to copyrighted material are increasingly operated by sophisticated criminal networks, the Be Stream Wise campaign alleges. Not only that, but these websites, dodgy devices and subscriptions are also used as a way to commit credit card fraud.

This is a message reiterated by Detective Sergeant Adam Dagnall of Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit: “Merseyside Police takes illegal streaming seriously because it often helps fund organised crime and puts users at real risk. Not only is it a criminal offence, but the unauthorised streaming services frequently contain malware that can compromise personal devices and lead to the loss of information such as banking details, or be used to commit identity fraud.

“Legitimate providers have security measures that protect users from these threats. Please don’t be tempted by cheap so-called ‘fully loaded’ or ‘jailbroken’ devices, even as Christmas gifts – you could end up getting more than you bargained for.”

DCI Alethea Fowler of Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) said: “Users of illegal streaming services may see it as a harmless crime, but there is no such thing. Not only do the end users of these services face risks such as loss of personal data and fire risk to their property, but they are also funding serious and organised crime.

"Criminals rarely stop at one income stream, and by purchasing illicit goods, you are enabling further forms of criminality, often involving exploitation and harm. We would encourage anyone who is considering using illegal streaming services to consider the risks to themselves, their families, and their wider communities. Tarian ROCU will continue to work with partners such as FACT to identify distributors and bring them to justice."

It follows a flurry of activity from law enforcement to clamp down on illicit streaming across the UK.

In Stockton-on-Tees, a 52-year-old man was arrested under suspicion of being involved in an entirely separate illegal streaming operation first uncovered by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit. Earlier this month, Merseyside Police Cyber Crime Unit confirmed that a 41-year-old man from Liverpool was handed a two-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to charges of promoting and selling modified Fire TV Sticks that offered access to paid-for films, TV shows, and live Premier League matches.

Back in March, FACT worked in conjunction with the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and the Premier League to target 11 individuals across the UK who were selling illegal access to premium TV content, including live Premier League matches via modified or so-called "fully loaded" Smart TV devices or Fire TV Sticks.