Home / Crime and Justice / Dodgy Fire Sticks Unleash £1.7k Fraud Risk on Users
Dodgy Fire Sticks Unleash £1.7k Fraud Risk on Users
15 Apr
Summary
- Illegal Fire Stick users risk an average loss of £1,700 due to fraud.
- Hackers install malware to steal bank details from affected devices.
- Sky is pursuing legal action to identify users of illegal streaming services.
Users of illegal Fire Sticks and 'dodgy boxes' are at a significant risk of financial loss and identity theft. Research indicates that as many as one in three individuals using these unauthorized devices have been targeted by fraudsters, with average losses amounting to £1,700. The methods employed by hackers involve installing malware onto the devices, which can then access sensitive personal information and bank account details through concealed applications.
Sky has initiated legal proceedings to combat illegal streaming. In a recent development, an Irish High Court granted an order compelling Revolut Bank to disclose details of 304 subscribers and 10 resellers suspected of facilitating payments for pirated content. This action follows Sky's civil suit against Revolut, stemming from users employing the banking app for transactions related to illegal streaming services.
This legal move could lead to the identification and prosecution of individuals engaging in the illegal viewing of premium content, such as Premier League football. The case originated from Sky's civil prosecution against an individual who operated an illegal streaming service, resulting in substantial damages and costs awarded to Sky. The use of such devices is considered a serious crime, with law enforcement agencies and anti-piracy organizations actively targeting those involved.
