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Police and anti-fraud squads have targeted 17 parts of the UK
Police and anti-fraud squads have been cracking down on ‘dodgy’ Amazon Fire Stick users in various parts of the UK. These ‘dodgy’ Amazon Fire Sticks are modified versions that allow users to access premium channels without paying, and they’ve been infiltrating homes across the country.
Fire Sticks are media streaming devices that enable users to stream videos, play music, and install apps on their televisions. Criminals tamper with these gadgets to provide unauthorised access to premium content from legitimate providers such as Sky, BT Sport, Disney+ and Netflix.
Amazon’s latest Fire Stick model is proving a tough nut to crack for those looking to illicitly stream shows. The most recent Fire TV Stick was released a few months ago, just before Amazon’s worldwide clampdown on piracy.
A spokesperson for National Trading Standards previously warned: “Accessing pirated content through illegal TV fire sticks undermines the UK’s entertainment industry, putting its talented workforce and supply chains at risk by depriving them of fair earnings and revenue. It also puts consumers at risk by exposing them to illegal software that can put their data and bank details in jeopardy.
“An important reminder to all those who buy and sell TV firesticks is that crime does not pay, it breaches copyright law and we encourage people to report suspected cases to the Citizens Advice consumer service.”
It’s believed that almost five million people across the UK have accessed illegal sports broadcasts, with organisations including the Premier League, Sky and FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) collaborating with authorities to stamp out the practice.
Those caught streaming illegally could face fines running into thousands of pounds, and potentially a prison sentence of up to 12 months. The punishments are harsher for those found selling the devices.
In 2024, Jonathan Edge, then 29, from Anfield Road in Liverpool, received a 40-month prison sentence for selling Firestick devices that enabled users to illegally stream Premier League football matches. And in 2025, Sunny Kanda, then 40, from Creek View in Halifax, was jailed for two years in connection with “supplying and distributing TV fire sticks and concealing bank transfers linked to criminal activity”.
Authorities, ranging from police and anti-piracy organisations to the broadcasters themselves, have been attempting to eliminate the market through fines and home raids.
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey, from the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit, warned: “Illegal streaming might look like a quick way to save money, but as this research shows, it’s a false economy that can end up costing people thousands.
“This is a crime that diverts funds away from the entertainment industries, money that supports thousands of technical and support staff. At the same time, it exposes end users to the risks of data theft, cybercrime and fraud. This research is crucial for helping us understand those dangers and why initiatives like BeStreamWise matter.
“They give the public the tools and knowledge to stay safe online and enjoy content legally and securely. We will continue to work collaboratively to ensure that this activity is disrupted and those involved are held to account.”
Both suppliers and viewers could be hit with fines of up to £50,000 for using jailbroken Fire Sticks to illegally stream Sky and Premier League content, FACT has warned. While viewers watching illegal streams may face lighter penalties, they could still be stung with fines running into thousands of pounds.
Illegal streaming can be accessed through various devices, but one of the most prevalent methods involves “jailbroken” Fire Sticks, which have had third-party media server software installed. The most frequently used software is Kodi.
Buying or selling these modified devices is also against the law. They’ve become known as “fully-loaded” devices, a term referring to how the software has been tampered with to provide access to subscription-only channels.
A government spokesperson previously said: “These devices are legal when used to watch legitimate, free-to-air content. They become illegal once they are adapted to stream illicit content, for example TV programmes, films and subscription sports channels without paying the appropriate subscriptions.”
The recent crackdown has extended beyond the UK to Ireland, where authorities issued legal warnings to 13 unlawful IPTV operators throughout the country, demanding they cease their illegal streaming operations immediately or face serious repercussions, including potential criminal charges.
The 13 legal warnings were issued across Dublin, Cork, Donegal, Offaly, Limerick, Louth, Clare, Westmeath and Laois. Delivered face-to-face, via post and through electronic mail, the intervention proved effective, leading to services being terminated, social media accounts being removed, subscriptions being cancelled and financial settlements being reached.
Kieron Sharp, Chairman of FACT, said: “Together with our partners we will continue to identify and take action against Illegal IPTV service providers. They are breaking the law, making criminal profits and putting consumers at real risk of malware, data loss and identity theft.
“We want to protect consumers from these risks and operations such as this ensure the message goes out. It is not scaremongering; these are real criminal actions which consumers and their families are exposed to. These investigations and operations will continue this new year.”
17 UK areas targeted in ‘dodgy’ Fire Stick crackdown
- London
- Kent
- Sussex
- Norfolk
- Northamptonshire
- Lincolnshire
- Derbyshire
- Staffordshire
- East and West Midlands
- Greater Manchester
- Cheshire
- Merseyside
- Northumbria
- North Yorkshire
- South Wales
- North East England
- North West England
Amazon has implemented measures to combat illegal streaming on their devices with the newest version of the Fire Stick. The latest Fire TV Stick 4K Select will run on a different operating system known as Vega OS.
This means modified Android applications won’t function on newer models, as the capability to side-load apps will be removed. Amazon stated that only applications from the Amazon Appstore on Fire TV will be available for download “for enhanced security” in what represents a major obstacle for those who develop them.
“Piracy is illegal, and we’ve always worked to block it from our Appstore,” an Amazon spokesperson said. “Through an expanded program led by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global coalition fighting digital piracy, we’ll now block apps identified as providing access to pirated content, including those downloaded from outside our Appstore.
“This builds on our ongoing efforts to support creators and protect customers, as piracy can also expose users to malware, viruses, and fraud.”
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