‘Dodgy Firestick’ crackdown sees raids and thousands stopped from illegally watching Premier League games

A major crackdown on ‘misunderstood fire sticks’ has seen thousands cut off their illegal supply following police raids. The packages were offered for just £40 a year to receive premium paid content including sports and other channels.

The group Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) led a crackdown in which a man received a two-year suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of promoting and selling illegally modified firesticks that provided unauthorized access to premium film and television content, including live football matches. .

And FACT revealed that recent raids targeted 11 people who were selling illegal access to premium TV content, including live Premier League matches through modified or “fully loaded” devices or smart TV sticks. In the latest court case, Kevin O’Donnell, 41, from Liverpool, was targeted in an investigation by FACT and Merseyside Police’s Cyber ​​Crime Unit.

FACT said O’Donnell used Facebook to promote an illegal IPTV subscription service. Operating under the pseudonym ‘Kevo James’, his account boasted over 3,600 members and was used as a platform to sell modified Firesticks.

These devices have been illegally configured to provide unauthorized access to sports, TV channels and movie content, bypassing legitimate providers such as Sky and TNT Sports and significantly undermining their commercial interests.

Merseyside Police executed a search warrant at O’Donnell’s Liverpool residence and many digital devices were seized, including computers, laptops, mobile phones and modified Firesticks.

Further forensic examination by FACT revealed that these premium packages, priced between £40 and £85 for a 12-month contract, were offered directly onto an illegally configured IPTV device (fully loaded Firesticks). O’Donnell used Facebook or WhatsApp direct messaging and offered mail or in-person delivery services. FACT estimated that O’Donnell made more than £130,000 by defrauding content owners of more than half a million pounds.

Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, said: “We are extremely grateful for the diligent work of Merseyside Police’s Cyber ​​Crime Unit. Their collaboration with FACT was essential in holding O’Donnell accountable for his actions. This case highlights the importance of protecting legitimate providers, as well as the significant impact that coordinated law enforcement efforts can have on combating digital piracy.

“The message is very clear: If you sell a device that provides access to content that is not licensed to you or that you do not own, you may face criminal investigation, prosecution and possible conviction.” Detective Inspector Steve Frame added: “We have worked closely with FACT to ensure O’Donnell is held to account for his actions and this was an excellent example of how police and industry experts can come together to address this type of crime. The investigation found that O’Donnell made a significant amount of money from selling these illegally adapted firesticks and did so over a number of years via Facebook and WhatsApp.

In March, FACT, in collaboration with the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and the Premier League, targeted a further 11 people in the UK who were selling illegal access to premium TV content, including live Premier League matches. One person was arrested and 10 others were questioned under caution.