A “DODGY firestick” seller was caught after an undercover cop joined a Facebook group where he was selling.
Sunny Kanda of Halifax unwittingly sold an illegally modified TV Firestick to an undercover investigator and has since been sentenced to two years.
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When purchased legally, Fire TV Sticks can offer a range of premium content that would normally require a subscription feeCredit: Getty
The 41-year-old, of Sunny Kanda, Creek View, Wheatley, sold devices that allowed unauthorized access to premium content.
Available platforms included Sky, BT Sport, Disney+ and Netflix.
He offered the devices to a Facebook group with more than 3,900 members.
But it all came to an end when an undercover investigator joined the site.
After purchasing the Firestick, analysis on the device revealed changes that made premium content available.
Using apps called The Vodfather XC and Plex, users could watch a selection of live film, television and sports content without a subscription.
After suspicions were raised, an investigation by National Trading Standards, the local authority and intellectual property organization Fact launched an investigation into Kanda.
The court heard how Kanda pocketed £108,000 which was to have been directed to legitimate service providers over an 18-month period between 2020 and 2022.
Last year, Kanda pleaded guilty to three charges relating to fraud, copyright and concealment of wire transfers linked to criminal activity.
He was subsequently convicted at York Crown Court on Friday and sentenced to two years in prison.
At the hearing scheduled for May 7, it will be decided whether financial orders should also be introduced.
Following Kanda’s sentencing, Kieron Sharp, chief executive of Fact, told the BBC: “The outcome serves as both a consequence for those involved in this criminal activity and a strong warning to others considering similar action.
“Illegal streaming is not a victimless crime. It weakens the creative industries, puts consumers at risk of data theft and often funds other serious crimes.”
A spokesman for National Trading Standards told the Birmingham Mail: “Access to pirated content through illegal TV Firesticks is undermining the UK entertainment industry, putting its talented workforce and supply chains at risk by denying them a fair wage and income.
“It also puts consumers at risk by exposing them to illegal software that can compromise their data and banking information.
“Today’s sentence is an important reminder to all those who buy and sell TV Firesticks that crime does not pay – it breaches copyright law and we encourage people to report suspicious cases to the Citizens Advice Customer Service.”
Secret world of ‘crazy firesticks’ exposed – with secret WhatsApp groups and £100 payouts to mystery ringleaders
By Jonathan Rose
MORE and more Brits are getting illegal TV Firesticks to watch premium content without paying a monthly subscription.
While legitimate devices provide instant access to a range of paid streaming apps, some attract those with unofficial apps.
The Sun understands that you need to know someone with a dodgy firestick who can give your number to an anonymous “administrator”.
They then arrange payment so that you can download apps, receive applications and then gain access.
You are also added to the “customer service” WhatsApp group where the admin handles issues and receives requests for movies and TV shows.
Users pay £100 a year to access every channel they can think of from around the world and in the UK.
It gives you unlimited access to Premier League football on Sky and TNT.
It also includes the latest movies and TV shows on Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
But chartered security expert James Bore told The Sun it’s possible the devices could be used against you.
He said: “In the same way as when you buy a used laptop, it’s possible that the seller has put software on it that can track data, copy passwords and the like.
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Sunny Kanda, of Creek View, Wheatley, Halifax, was jailed for two years after selling infringing devicesCredit: West Yorkshire Police
Categories: Optical Illusion
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