Homes across the UK have been raided over the use of illegal streaming using ‘dodgy’ Amazon Fire TV sticks.
The sticks, also called ‘jailbroken’ or ‘modded’ sticks, involve crooked vendors installing official streaming apps so users can watch for free.
Using these devices, which include USB sticks and other boxes plugged into a TV, is against the Fraud Act and can lead to hefty fines.
Police forces and the anti-piracy body Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) have been seizing the fire sticks and making arrests.
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The crackdown aims to target more than 30 suppliers selling them.
As part of the operation, a 42-year-old man was arrested in Newport on suspicion of his involvement in selling illicit fire sticks. Others were visited in person and handed cease-and-desist letters.
FACT said the raid is the latest clampdown on illegal streaming operations, with courts also imposing tougher sentences on those who break the law.
Jonathan Edge, 29, from Liverpool, received a three-year jail term for selling and using illegal fire sticks.
The organisation sent him cease and desist letters but he carried on, leading to the Premier League taking him to court.
Amazon has also joined the crackdown – its new Fire TV Stick 4K Select has a key change that makes it harder to turn into a dodgy stick.
A cybersecurity expert told Metro that the device no longer uses Android but a new operating system. Now, apps uploaded on the new device will find it harder to gain permission for things like internet connectivity.
However, the expert, James Bore, warned that the drive may push crooks underground and switch to non-Amazon devices.
Full list of areas targeted in ‘dodgy’ stick raids
- London
- Kent
- Sussex
- Norfolk
- Northamptonshire
- Lincolnshire
- Staffordshire
- East and West Midlands
- Greater Manchester
- Cheshire
- Merseyside
- Northumbria
- North Yorkshire
What is the law around ‘dodgy’ Fire TV sticks?
Using or distributing ‘jailbroken’ fire sticks is against the law.
Jailbroken fire sticks have been hacked to allow access to additional apps.
It is against the law to use a jailbroken one to do something illegal with.
For example, if somebody had a ‘jailbroken’ PlayStation and used it to play pirated video games, that would be illegal.
This means owners of these fire sticks can download illegal streaming apps and watch content without paying for the subscription services.
People are at risk of a large fine if they do not pay for a TV licence and watch live sports on a ‘dodgy’ fire stick.
The maximum punishment is a £1,000 fine – which could reach £2,000 if you live in Guernsey.
Owning a normal Fire TV Stick like those provided by Amazon is not illegal and is not part of this crackdown.
Chief executive of FACT, Kieron Sharp, said: ‘Our cease-and-desist measures are not just warnings—they are the first step toward holding offenders accountable.
‘If you’re supplying or using illicit streaming devices or illegal IPTV subscriptions, take this as a clear warning: you are breaking the law and risk facing serious consequences.
‘To those using illegal streaming services, the message is that you’re not just committing a crime; you are putting yourself at risk.
‘These services often expose users to malware, scams, and data theft, with no recourse when things go wrong.’
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