Authorities have apprehended two individuals suspected of operating an illicit scheme selling unauthorized television subscription packages across the UK.
Yesterday, simultaneous searches were conducted at residential locations in Harlow and Chigwell in Essex, Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire, and Lanarkshire in Scotland, leading to the arrest of two men, aged 33 and 35, on suspicion of fraud, money laundering, and intellectual property offenses.
The investigation, spearheaded by ERSOU, focuses on a Telegram channel selling unauthorized access to Sky TV packages, allegedly resold to thousands of end users, resulting in earnings exceeding £800,000.
Specialist financial investigators also seized £17,000 in cash, custom streaming devices, and several digital devices for further analysis.
The suspects were taken into police custody for further interrogation and subsequently released on bail. Investigations are ongoing.
Moreover, the individual apprehended in Harlow was also arrested for firearms license violations after two shotguns were confiscated.
Detective Inspector Steve Payne, from ERSOU’s Regional Organized Crime Unit, remarked, “Yesterday’s arrests are part of a probe into a sophisticated large-scale criminal enterprise that has generated significant proceeds through the illicit sale of TV subscription packages. We recognize that proceeds from illegal activities like this often finance broader organized crime, underscoring the importance of apprehending those involved.”
“We have also obtained information about those purchasing the streams, and I would like to remind anyone engaging in such activities that they are breaking the law and could face legal action,” he added.
Matt Hibbert, Director of Anti-Piracy for the UK and ROI at Sky, expressed gratitude to ERSOU and participating forces for their decisive action, which will disrupt the illegal sale of Sky TV. He affirmed Sky’s commitment to shutting down organized networks engaged in large-scale content theft and safeguarding consumers from the risks associated with accessing content unlawfully.
Illegal streaming operations are often linked to sophisticated criminal networks, involved in various criminal activities, including cybercrime. Using illegal streaming services exposes individuals to risks such as identity theft, financial loss, and device malware. Concerned individuals can find more information about these risks at BeStreamWise.com.
Original article, published on 13th December can be found on the ERSOU Police website.https://ersou.police.uk/news/2023/12/13/three-arrested-in-illegal-streaming-investigation/