Former detective Rav Wilding said police are ‘seeing who has been paying the money’
Ex cop Rav Wilding said police are tracking dodgy firestick users through the bank accounts of busted sellers(Image: BBC)
A BBC expert has warned users of so-called ‘dodgy firesticks’ that they’re committing ‘a crime’ and could face fines – and those selling them could end up in prison. A ‘fully loaded’ Fire TV Stick is a standard Amazon Fire TV Stick that has been modified, “jailbroken,” or side-loaded with unauthorised third-party apps, custom media players (like Kodi), and illegal IPTV subscriptions.
Former detective Rav Wilding said police are now going through the accounts of sellers to trace people who are using them to watch premium content for free – and getting in touch.
These devices are typically sold by independent dealers on social media, online marketplaces, or in person for a one-time fee (often £30 to £100), frequently bundled with a 12-to-24-month subscription to pirate services.
In a video posted today by BBC Morning Live Mr Wilding said: “We’re talking about these streaming devices. It’s a little a little device you plug in the back of the telly and you stream services such as sports or movies. Normally, they are premium subscription service. People are buying them um online usually on the black market and then they’re getting all these services for for free essentially.
“But it’s a crime. It’s not allowed. Owning the stick itself is not a crime, but using it for this purpose is.”
He said that police forces around the UK are now carrying out raids, prompted by internet service providers and streamers such as Sky. Mr Wilding said: ”Police are cracking down on this. It’s estimated up to 4 million people or households have got these items at the moment. All of them using using them illegally. They’re going for the distributors. They’re going for the sellers, those that are selling these devices. They are having a lot of success. But actually, once they’ve got the seller, they’re going through their accounts.
“They’re seeing who has been paying the money, who have they been getting money from for these illegal things and actually reaching out further afield to try and find out who’s been using these sticks illegally and also so they’re checking their banks are checking their statements to see who’s been paying them and if they’ve been paying them for these sticks then you know people should um possibly expect a conversation or two if the police want to know why they’ve been paying them money for this.
“Actually, some of the subscription service providers themselves are losing money to this, so they have been reaching out and are taking action against those people using them illegally as well, so I wouldn’t say it’s something you should do. It is actually a crime and it can have a nasty fine, a huge fine and also a custodial sentence for users and sellers of these things.”
The crackdown is co-ordinated by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), an anti-piracy organisation sponsored by the film and video industry, and police forces across the UK are getting involved. The police can now enforce greater punishment for those found using these illegal devices.
Kieron Sharp, chairman of FACT, said: “We have a wide range of enforcement options — from issuing cease and desist notices to ‘knock and talk’ visits — through to full criminal prosecutions where appropriate. We will take robust action against those involved — not only targeting sellers and distributors, but also those facilitating and profiting from the illegal activity.”
TV viewers tempted to buy an illegal stick because it saves them money could, therefore, actually find themselves financially worse off — and threatened with prison. The biggest sentences will be reserved for “supplying and distributing TV fire sticks and concealing bank transfers linked to criminal activity”.