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UK Police Expand Crackdown on Illegal Fire TV Sticks to Nine Regions

Police link illicit IPTV on modded devices to organised crime, warning users of fraud, malware, fines.

Overview

  • Police and copyright bodies say they are targeting households after obtaining customer details linked to purchased modified devices.
  • Operations now cover London, the West Midlands, the South West, the North West, the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, Scotland, and Wales.
  • Recent enforcement resulted in four arrests and the seizure of 10 servers valued at about £750,000, according to police updates.
  • The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit warns users they are not anonymous and could face enforcement, with local reports citing potential fines of around £1,000.
  • Authorities highlight organised criminal profits and consumer harms, citing BeStreamWise findings that two in five illegal streamers were defrauded for an average loss of roughly £1,700, while Amazon and Sky report continued cooperation with police.