Eight new areas targeted in new illegal fire stick crackdown

A number of new areas have reportedly been targeted as the crackdown against illegal Fire Sticks continues.

'Dodgy Fire Sticks' are 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.

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'.

Authorities are cracking down on illegal Fire Sticks (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Operation Eider is an ongoing campaign launched by authorities and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) to combat the growing issue.

Last year, three arrests were made in Merseyside as part of the operation, meanwhile, hundreds of letters were sent out to households following the prosecution of Jonathan Edge.

The details of customers who bought one of Edge's doctored devices were seized by Merseyside Police after the father-of-two, 30, was jailed last year.

Edge pleaded guilty to three offences under the Fraud Act in November 2024 and was sentenced to three years and four months behind bars for the scheme.

These 'cease and desist' letters reminded people they ran the risk of 'potential criminal liability to exposure to scams, viruses, and harmful content'.

Jonathan Edge has been jailed for three years and four months. (Merseyside Police)

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.

“It may appear harmless, but illegal streaming fuels organised crime and puts viewers at real risk, from scams and malware to data theft.”

According to The Sun, eight areas being targeted over the dodgy Fire Sticks include: London, the South West, North West, North East, Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire and Humber, and the West Midlands.

The crackdown has already been targeting:

• London
• Kent
• Sussex
• Norfolk
• Northamptonshire
• Lincolnshire
• Derbyshire
• Staffordshire
• East and West Midlands
• Greater Manchester
• Cheshire
• Merseyside
• Northumbria
• North Yorkshire
• South Wales
• North East and North West of England

Eight new areas have been identified (Getty Stock Photo)

Sharp previously 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.

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'.