AMAZON Fire Sticks owners have been warned of a new crackdown on illegal streaming following the arrest of a man.
The suspect, 42, is believed to be from Nottingham and has used equipment to distribute top shows, films and sport by illegally streaming Sky TV for free.
Police, who subsequently seized the man’s equipment, said the arrest sends a clear message to those watching Sky without permission.
Authorities have also threatened that individuals could be in for a surprise if their streams go dark.
The police currently have powers under various laws, including the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Computer Misuse Act and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act.
The man has now been released on bail pending further investigation, the Mirror reports.
Detective Sergeant David Beach of Nottinghamshire Police’s Cybercrime Unit said: “This action sends a strong message that we are targeting those who knowingly commit or facilitate copyright infringement online.”
He added: “Not only does this particular operation pose a huge loss to the entertainment industry, but it is also unfair that millions of people work hard to afford their subscription-only TV services, while others cheating the system.
“Some may think that paying for illegal streaming devices and services is a victimless crime, but that is not the case.”
Last year, a survey by global research agency YouGov Sport found that 5.1 million adults in England, Scotland and Wales admitted to watching sport via an illegal streaming website or app.
Amazon Prime Video, Sky Sports and TNT Sports share media rights to live Premier League matches in Britain, but a subscription to all three services would cost fans more than £70 a month.
On top of the cost of living crisis, more and more people are becoming less likely to cash out, especially if they know they can get it for free elsewhere.
However, Sky’s Group Director of Anti-Piracy, Matt Hibbert, expressed his gratitude to police following the man’s recent arrest.
He said: “We would like to thank Nottinghamshire Police’s cybercrime team for taking this strong action against illegal streaming operators.
“We will continue to support law enforcement to protect our content, tackle illegal streaming and protect consumers from the risks that illegal streaming can pose.”
Hacked streaming sticks are not only illegal, but can also cause nasty viruses that hack your software.
Detective Inspector Steve Frame, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Illegal streaming is far from a victimless crime, and in addition to the impact it has on businesses and content creators, it essentially means that legitimate subscribers are paying for those who illegally access such services.
“Illegal flows also increase the risk that users will receive malware, putting them at greater risk of falling victim to Computer Misuse Act violations.”
It comes just days after a man who fled the UK after selling thousands of illegal IPTV boxes with access to premium Sky and BT channels was eventually jailed.
Michael Hornung, 40, from Hyde, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison for carrying out the scheme and pocketing an estimated £350,000.
The TV boxes he sold provided access to subscription services from Sky, BT and Virgin Media, as well as thousands of on-demand films and pay-per-view content.
Households using unreliable streaming gadgets were also recently given a ‘stern warning’ after an illegal TV operation was busted.
Two men running the illegal streaming ring “Titan Streams” were caught selling illegal Sky and TNT Sports subscriptions to thousands of people, Worcestershire Council said.
Benjamin Yates and Lewis Finch have pleaded guilty to illegally offering Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), which allows free access to paywall services.