ILLEGAL streaming sites used to watch Sky Sports on the cheap have been hit by a major raid by police.
Officers stormed three properties and arrested two people suspected of being involved in the operation.
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Detectives from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police executed search warrants at two residential addresses in Oldbury, as well as a data centre located in Cheltenham during the early hours of July 3.
They seized seven pieces of server tech alleged to have been used to distribute the content.
It’s believed that the latest crackdown effort has caused major disruption to a number of pirate services, police said.
A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of running the illegal streaming service.
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And a 32-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of distributing material infringing copyright and receiving criminal property.
Police believe the pair received “significant profits” from running the operation.
“This activity should serve as a reminder that PIPCU will pursue criminals who seek to profit from illegal streaming and disrupt their operations,” said Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt, from City of London Police.
“This is a crime that diverts funds away from the creative and 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, fraud and malware.”
Experts have repeatedly warned users that using IPTV services or dodgy modified Fire Sticks carry unexpected risks.
The main concern is fraud.
One victim previously told The Sun that thousands was accessed from their bank account within minutes of signing up to one, in a bid to watch F1 on the cheap.
“There were all sorts of transactions on my bank account for quite a large amount of money which were on various times and various dates for different amounts,” he said.
“It’s scary really, they attempted thousands.”
A recent investigation by The Sun revealed how criminal gangs are easily advertising blatant illegal streaming services on Facebook.
And criminal operators are even threatening to turn up at people’s houses to install them.
“We are extremely grateful to the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit for taking this action against a significant pirate operation,” said Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky.
“We will continue to work alongside the police and industry partners to tackle piracy and disrupt the criminal networks behind it.
“This action helps to keep consumers safe from the serious risks that piracy can pose to devices and personal property.”
The man and woman have since been released under investigation.
RISKS FROM ILLEGAL STREAMING AND DOWNLOADS
People streaming content illegally are at risk of fraud and other dangers when using dodgy TV devices.
But that’s not the only possible consequence.
They can slow down your broadband connection and affect other gadgets around your home too.
“Illegal streaming isn’t just unsafe, it’s actively harmful,” said Liz Bales, CEO of the British Association for Screen Entertainment (BASE), and The Industry Trust for IP.
“Devices used for piracy are often infected with hidden malware, leading to crashing apps, severely disrupted performance, and compromised home networks.
“This puts personal data and entire households at risk.”
Image credit: Getty
