Targeted emails are being sent to people using illegal TV streaming services and so-called “loaded” Firesticks, Android, or Kodi devices which are being advertised openly on Facebook
Users of illegal TV streams are getting targeted emails or texts warning them to stop or risk prosecution, the Mirror can reveal.
The customer contact details of more than 1,000 Brit streamers were seized by police investigating criminals suspected of running illegal TV streaming services. They were then sent “cease and desist” messages by FACT, the Federation Against Copyright Theft, in a ramping up of efforts to tackle rampant piracy that is thought to be costing the entertainment industry as much as £20bn a year.
FACT chairman Kieron Sharp, a former senior City of London Police detective and former head of the economic crime team at Interpol, said: “This campaign makes it clear that end users of illegal streaming services are breaking the law.
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“The risks are real, from potential criminal liability to exposure to scams, viruses, and harmful content. We urge people to protect themselves and their families by only using legitimate providers.”
There are thought to be millions of Brits who access illegal TV streaming services – FACT warn they are potentially liable to prosecution for criminal offences, including under Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006. FACT, the UK's leading intellectual property protection organisation, says its latest campaign shows users they are not anonymous and that watching illegally streamed content carries risks.
In May, we…