'Dodgy' Fire TV sticks under crackdown in 13 areas - full list

Brits across the country are being warned to stay away from 'dodgy' Fire TV sticks or face severe consequences. It comes after 30 suppliers of illegal streaming services were hit by cease-and-desist orders from FACT in tandem with the police.

FACT warned those providing these services that if they do not stop carrying out the illegal activities they will face prosecution. Fire TV Stick were originally designed and produced by Amazon to provide legitimate live streaming services such as Prime Video and Netflix.

However criminals modify the device and then either sell it to customers with an upfront cost or subscription cost to allow users to watch the streaming services for free. FACT CEO Kieron Sharp warned that the use of these devices carry the risk of "facing serious consequences".

He added: "Our cease-and-desist measures are not just warnings - they are the first step toward holding offenders accountable. Many who ignored these notices in the past are now facing arrest and criminal charges. We strongly advise anyone involved in these activities to stop immediately.

"If you’re supplying or using illicit streaming devices or illegal IPTV subscriptions, take this as a clear warning: you are breaking the law and risk facing serious consequences. We will continue working with police to track down and shut down these illegal operations.

"The police across the UK have been unstinting in their efforts to tackle this criminality and we are grateful for their assistance. To those using illegal streaming services, the message is that you’re not just committing a crime; you are putting yourself at risk.

"These services often expose users to malware, scams, and data theft, with no recourse when things go wrong. The safest, smartest and only choice is to stick to legitimate providers for your entertainment."

A two-week enforcement operation kicked off by FACT focused on eliminating piracy operations, with a particular focus in more than a dozen major areas across the UK. As part of the operation, a 42-year-old man was arrested in Newport on suspicion of being involved in illegal IPTV operations, including the sale of illicit Fire sticks.

The key areas facing the crackdown include:

• London
• Kent
• Sussex
• Norfolk
• Northamptonshire
• Lincolnshire
• Staffordshire
• East and West Midlands
• Greater Manchester
• Cheshire
• Merseyside
• Northumbria
• North Yorkshire