How you really get caught for using illegal fire stick

With many streaming services coming with an ever-increasing subscription charge, costs associated with using different apps can start to mount up.

Which is why it can be tempting to opt for a 'dodgy' Fire Stick - essentially, an illegal device in which people are streaming paid-for content, as well as sports channels via illegal third-party apps.

To combat the illegal activity, Amazon has been identifying the apps which they believe are being used to stream the content.

According to Cordbusters, some Brits are starting to see a new warning which says: "This app has been disabled because it has been identified as using or providing access to unlicensed content."

Users are then given the option to uninstall or dismiss the message, which essentially means the illegal apps are no longer accessible.

In addition, Amazon are also taking steps to stop the apps being downloaded altogether, meaning many of them are now blocked and cannot be installed.

While hundreds of thousands of Brits are believed to already be using the devices, you might be wondering what would actually happen if you were caught with a dodgy stick.

Are there any repercussions? Let's get into it.

The sticks are illegal devices in which people are streaming paid-for content (Getty Stock Photo)

Is it illegal to use a dodgy Fire Stick?

Essentially, it's illegal to use the device to access unpaid for content, that is not authorised by the owner.

Downloading these apps violates section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006, which refers to 'obtaining services dishonestly,' including 'knowing the services are made available on the basis that payment has been, is being or will be made for or in respect of them or that they might be; and avoids or intends to avoid payment in full or in part'.

Amazon is cracking down on the dodgy sticks (INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

How are people caught using a dodgy Fire Stick?

Kieron Sharp, who is chairman of The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), told Yahoo News that using a dodgy stick 'isn't worth the risk'.

He explained that police often find out about users after customer information has been seized from illegal streaming providers.

In addition, user information can also be passed to authorities from the broadcasters themselves, if they have reason to believe their services are being streamed illegally.

Then there are neighbours, who contact the team to report users 'because they're paying the service and then seeing somebody else who isn't and that does frustrate people'.

Authorities are mainly targeting providers (Getty Stock Photo)

What happens if you are caught using one?

Investigations are mainly focused on providers, with Sharp explaining: "We're very keen not to criminalise everybody and do not want to prosecute everybody."

The first course of action if you are caught is usually a warning letter. However, in theory, falling foul of section 11 means you could get up to 12 months in prison for a summary conviction or even a maximum of five years for offences deemed most serious.

While there aren't any known cases of people being charged simply for streaming content, police are cracking down on the people selling the modified devices, with one man from Liverpool being sentenced to three years and four months in prison after he was caught selling Fire Sticks loaded with illegal content.