Police go check your bank statement if you use illegal fire stick

Police don warn millions of Brits wey dey use illegal fire sticks say dem go soon catch dem—and dem go trace am through bank statements.

Authorities say about four million households dey access latest shows and live sports illegally with these small devices wey dey plug into TV. Dem fit be hacked to unlock premium channels, subscription services, latest films, and live Premier League football.

But police don start new crackdown wey involve analysis of bank statements. Acting Detective Chief Inspector Alethea Fowler from Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales yarn: “Criminals rarely stop at just one income stream, and by purchasing illicit goods—like an illegal streaming service fire stick—you dey enable further forms of criminality, often involving exploitation and harm.”

Last month, online bank Revolut don comply with Irish High Court order to hand over names and addresses of more than 300 “dodgy box” users to Sky, after money transfer to illegal streaming service provider David Dunbar from County Wexford, Republic of Ireland.

Police dey draw up lists of users and their addresses. Dem warn say the device itself legitimate but fit be tampered with or cloned by unscrupulous users or crooks wey dey sell am.

Authorities say those wey get such sticks fit face fine of thousands of pounds or even prison. The nationwide blitz, known as Operation Eider, fit bring unexpected knock on front door by officers with search warrants.

The crackdown dey coordinated by Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), an antipiracy organisation sponsored by film and video industry, with police forces across UK dey participate.

Kieron Sharp, chairman of FACT, tok: “We have wide range of enforcement options—from issuing cease and desist notices to ‘knock and talk’ visits—through to full criminal prosecutions where appropriate. We go take robust action against those involved—not only targeting sellers and distributors, but also those facilitating and profiting from the illegal activity.”

TV viewers wey dey think say illegal stick go save dem money fit find themselves financially worse off and facing prison. The biggest sentences go be for “supplying and distributing TV fire sticks and concealing bank transfers linked to criminal activity.”