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'Dodgy' Fire Stick users warned about dangers linked to illegal streaming devices

A fresh warning urged users to avoid 'dodgy' Fire Sticks as more than 1,000 people across the UK were recently contacted to stop using illegal TV Fire Sticks or face prosecution.
Subscription costs drive use, with 60% of fans and 90% of sports industry professionals blaming fees, and the Sports Industry Report 2026 recently found 58% of fans and 66% of professionals say using pirate streams is socially acceptable.
BeStreamWise warned around 39% of illegal streamers in the UK have suffered financial losses, with one in ten losing more than £5,000, risking ID theft, scams, viruses, and inappropriate content.
Prosecutions can follow under Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006, with Jonathan Edge, Liverpool, sentenced to three years and four months in prison in a case supported by FACT and Merseyside Police; offenders face fines and up to five years' imprisonment.
Amazon is blocking apps as part of an expanded ACE programme, while the Fire TV Stick 4K Select with Vega OS makes device tampering more difficult, and Sky warns of piracy risks.

Insights by Ground AI