A Merseyside couple have become the latest Brits to be arrested for supplying dodgy Fire Sticks as a police crackdown continues.
It was confirmed earlier this week (February 16), that Merseyside Police arrested a couple in Huyton on suspicion of supplying illegal IPTV services and seized personal electronic devices for further examination.
Their arrests come as part of an operation which is being led by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) alongside UK police forces, which has already seen some providers handed significant jail time.
Arrests have also stepped up in the UK in recent months after it was confirmed that police were teaming up with big corporations such as Sky to help bring an end to illegal streaming.
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Detective Sergeant Adam Dagnall of Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit said: "Illegal streaming may appear to be a cheap alternative, but it is often driven by organised criminals and exposes users to scams and data theft.
"Our partnership with FACT helps us quickly identify offenders and take firm action to disrupt these networks and protect the public from the fraud, malware and wider criminality behind them."
Sky are, of course, one of the companies most heavily affected by the increasing number of 'dodgy' Fire Stick owners, many of whom purchase the device as a way of avoiding the rising costs of football coverage in the UK, where it already costs well over £1000 annually to pay for the various subscriptions.
FACT chairman Kieron Sharp said: "These arrests reflect the results of our intelligence-led investigations and the strength of our partnerships with UK law enforcement.
"By sharing intelligence and coordinating action across multiple regions, we are effectively dismantling the supply networks that sit behind illegal streaming.
"It may appear harmless, but illegal streaming fuels organised crime and puts viewers at real risk, from scams and malware to data theft.
"The BeStreamWise campaign which FACT supports, reminds the public that what looks like a bargain can have serious consequences. The safest and only legal way to enjoy the shows and sports you love is through legitimate, licensed providers."
It's not just those that are providing the illegal streams who could face the long arm of the law however, as users have already been warned about a potential £50,000 fine for simply tuning in, while Amazon are also working to make things harder for Fire Stick owners when it comes to accessing the illegal apps needed to watch content behind a paywall.
Although more Brits might well deem it to be 'socially acceptable' to access illegal streams given the rising costs of streaming, it doesn't make it any less illegal, and big companies are unsurprisingly not happy about potential customers accessing their content for free.
The couple have been released under investigation while police enquiries are ongoing.
Topics: IPTV
James Moorhouse