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Investigators have revealed the key word they search for when trying to catch out people using an illegal 'dodgy' Amazon Fire stick in a new interview.
Amazon Fire Sticks have become a popular option for millions looking to combine their streaming services into one convenient spot. However, their sales explosion is also largely driven by users who use the devices for illegal streaming.
The so-called 'dodgy' sticks offer users access to premium TV channels and subscription services that would otherwise require expensive subscriptions or pay-per-view fees.
According to a 2026 report by The Telegraph, almost four million people in the UK used illegal streaming services in 2023, and that's likely to have blown up even more by 2026.
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Both law enforcement and Amazon itself are cracking down on people using third-party apps to illegally stream Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service. The tech giant announced tougher measures, including removing the Fire Stick's 'most abused' feature in a blow to IPTV users while some UK customers are now being greeted with warnings when they attempt to use certain apps or features.
Meanwhile, police have launched coordinated raids across more than a dozen regions throughout the UK. Some of which have already resulted in prison sentences for individuals caught selling or distributing dodgy devices preloaded with piracy-enabling apps.
Now, investigators specialising in illegal streaming have revealed a surprisingly simple keyword they use to identify suspects when sifting through mountains of digital evidence.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, they noted that they search for the word 'illegal'.
"You would be surprised by how many suspects message others with phrases like, 'this is illegal', or 'we need to be careful as it’s illegal'," one investigator told the outlet.
With the amount of data they need to sift through, there's no way to read everything manually. So something as simple as a keyword search can quickly zero in on the right conversations.
These messages can then be cross-referenced with payment records, server information, IP addresses and more. In some cases, investigators even uncover entire customer databases that lay out exactly what's been happening and who's been involved.
Kieron Sharp, chairman of The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), told Yahoo News that using a modified Fire Stick 'isn't worth the risk.'
"We're very keen not to criminalise everybody and do not want to prosecute everybody," adding that most investigations focus on the people providing the platforms.
That said, accessing illegal streaming services is a violation of Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006 which refers to ‘obtaining services dishonestly’.
User information can be passed to authorities by broadcasters themselves if they have reason to believe their services are being streamed illegally.
In the most serious cases, conviction can carry a prison sentence of up to five years.
