Latest news with #PIPCU
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Huge haul of fake footy shirts worth £5m seized in pre-season crackdown
Seven people were arrested after a haul of more than 67,000 fake footy kits - worth an estimated £5.1million - were seized by police. A series of targeted operations across the country, including Bolton, resulted in a total of 67,573 dupes being seized since January 2025. If genuine, the seized merch would have been worth a massive £5.1 million, according to City of London Police. The pre-season crackdown is part of a collaboration between the force's Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Border Force, Trading Standards and industry partners. City of London Police also warned customers to avoid counterfeit products as they are "poorer quality" and may fund other illegal activities. On how to spot phoney merch, they say to check the price, quality, details, swing tags, and reputation of the seller - as well as checking for pen marks. READ MORE: 'Illicit vapes, cigarettes, counterfeit goods' all found as police visit shops Airport security mansold counterfeit DVDs Counterfeit CD haul is valued at £900,000 Officers from PIPCU arrested five people for the sale of counterfeit goods in Bolton, Nottingham, Shrewsbury, Burton-on-Trent and Leek in June and July 2025. All those arrested have since received conditional cautions, which order them to stop selling counterfeit goods and take down their online sales platforms, police said. Det Chf Insp Emma Warbey, from the PIPCU, said: 'Criminals are continuing to bring counterfeit products to the market as the new football season approaches. 'Some consumers believe they're buying genuine merchandise; some end up with a poor-quality product, and counterfeiting is thought to be the second largest source of criminal income worldwide, second only to illegal drugs. 'An issue of this scale demands a coordinated response, and we'll continue to work with our law enforcement, government and industry partners to crack down on this illegal trade and those who drive it.' On 26 June, West Yorkshire Trading Standards and the IPO seized around 2,300 fake football shirts during two search warrants in Leeds and Bradford. During the warrants, officers from West Yorkshire Police arrested two men, aged 37 and 44, on suspicion of selling counterfeit goods and money laundering offences. They have since been released under investigation. A further 2,793 items were seized by Border Force agents at East Midlands Airport during the UEFA Women's Euros. The IPO's Deputy Director of Intelligence and Law Enforcement, Kate Caffery said: "As fans rally behind their teams for the new Premier League season, criminal organisations are exploiting their passion by flooding the market with fake merchandise. "The manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit football kits is anything but a victimless crime – it channels money away from the game and directly into the pockets of serious crime. "Counterfeit trading destroys tens of thousands of jobs annually and has a strong link to other serious criminal activities – from drug trafficking to human trafficking and modern slavery. "By raising public awareness and helping supporters make informed choices, we can ensure that fans' loyalty truly benefits the sport they cherish and help combat this threat to our communities." Adam Chatfield, Assistant Border Force Director for Birmingham and East Midlands Airports added: "Border Force officers play a crucial role in protecting UK consumers and legitimate businesses by intercepting counterfeit goods before they reach the market. "Counterfeit goods are worse than just poor-quality products - they often fund serious organised crime and are manufactured without regard for safety standards or workers' rights. "By stopping these items at the border, we're not only protecting consumers from potentially dangerous products but also disrupting the criminal networks that profit from this illegal trade." Two sportswear brands have seized nearly 7,000 counterfeit items – including fake football shirts, kits and jerseys – across the UK and Ireland since January. In addition, Back Four Brand Protection has seized a total of 54,400 fake football shirts, kits and socks since January. A representative from the Football Association of England said: 'Brand abuse and counterfeiting negatively impact the income the FA generates from merchandising, which directly funds football at every level. Counterfeit products should be avoided by fans as they're often of poor quality, and fans deserve better.' A representative from the Football Association of Wales added: 'The Football Association of Wales is committed to tackling the issue of counterfeit merchandise and protecting our fans from fake merchandise. "Due to the success of the national team, and during participation in major tournaments, we see an increase in counterfeit merchandise. Counterfeit product is usually of poor quality, meaning our fans receive substandard product. "We encourage all our passionate fans to purchase official merchandise, meaning monies can be reinvested in grassroots football and communities in Wales, and our associated charities.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Tens of thousands of fake football shirts worth £5m seized ahead of new season
Police have seized more than 67,000 fake football kits ahead of the new season. As part of an operation involving the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Border Force and Trading Standards, a number of raids have taken place across the country since January 2025. The raids resulted in seven people being arrested - including one person from Greater Manchester. READ MORE: UK households urged to sprinkle chilli powder across gardens in August READ MORE: 'It was just banter... I have a husband': Care worker tells court she 'didn't want love bite' off boy If genuine, the seized merchandise would have been worth a massive £5.1 million, the City of London Police said. Officers from PIPCU arrested five people for the sale of counterfeit goods in Bolton, Nottingham, Shrewsbury, Burton-on-Trent and Leek in June and July 2025. All those arrested have since received conditional cautions, which order them to stop selling counterfeit goods and take down their online sales platforms, police said. Det Chf Insp Emma Warbey, from the PIPCU, said: "Criminals are continuing to bring counterfeit products to the market as the new football season approaches. "Some consumers believe they're buying genuine merchandise; some end up with a poor-quality product, and counterfeiting is thought to be the second largest source of criminal income worldwide, second only to illegal drugs. "An issue of this scale demands a coordinated response, and we'll continue to work with our law enforcement, government and industry partners to crack down on this illegal trade and those who drive it." On 26 June, West Yorkshire Trading Standards and the IPO seized around 2,300 fake football shirts during two search warrants in Leeds and Bradford. Two men, aged 37 and 44, were arrested on suspicion of selling counterfeit goods and money laundering offences. They have since been released under investigation. A further 2,793 items were seized by Border Force agents at East Midlands Airport during the UEFA Women's Euros. The IPO's Deputy Director of Intelligence and Law Enforcement, Kate Caffery said: "As fans rally behind their teams for the new Premier League season, criminal organisations are exploiting their passion by flooding the market with fake merchandise. "The manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit football kits is anything but a victimless crime – it channels money away from the game and directly into the pockets of serious crime. "Counterfeit trading destroys tens of thousands of jobs annually and has a strong link to other serious criminal activities – from drug trafficking to human trafficking and modern slavery. "By raising public awareness and helping supporters make informed choices, we can ensure that fans' loyalty truly benefits the sport they cherish and help combat this threat to our communities." Adam Chatfield, Assistant Border Force Director for Birmingham and East Midlands Airports added: "Border Force officers play a crucial role in protecting UK consumers and legitimate businesses by intercepting counterfeit goods before they reach the market. "Counterfeit goods are worse than just poor-quality products - they often fund serious organised crime and are manufactured without regard for safety standards or workers' rights. "By stopping these items at the border, we're not only protecting consumers from potentially dangerous products but also disrupting the criminal networks that profit from this illegal trade."
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
What are the punishments for illegal streaming?
Sky customers who used illegal Fire Sticks to stream content have been warned they face being cut off if caught. Two people were arrested over allegations of illegal streaming following raids by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police earlier this month. A 30-year-old man is suspected of operating an illicit streaming service and a 32-year-old woman is accused of distributing copyrighted material and handling criminal property. The arrests were made as part of a clamp down on so-called 'dodgy' Amazon Fire Sticks, which are pre-loaded with premium content for sport, films and TV shows and accessed for free by users. Two residential properties in Oldbury and a data centre in Cheltenham were targeted in the recent raids. Matt Hibbert, group director of anti-piracy at Sky, said the company 'will continue to work alongside the police and industry partners to tackle piracy and disrupt the criminal networks behind it.' PIPCU said the arrests are a reminder that they 'will pursue criminals who seek to profit from illegal streaming and disrupt their operations.' What are the punishments for using illegal Fire Sticks? People who use Fire Sticks are technically committing fraud as they are using services without paying the rightful provider. Richard Meehan, senior associate of the commercial team at Myerson Solicitors, told Yahoo News UK that the law 'specifically makes it a criminal offence if you dishonestly receive a broadcast from a place in the UK with the intent to avoid payment of any charge'. Users may also face civil copyright infringement claims for watching unauthorised content. Meehan said 'there is no maximum level to the fine which can be imposed on an individual found guilty of the offence'. However, prosecution is rare for consumers and warnings or civil action, as seen in 2023 when the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) issued cease-and-desist letters to thousands of UK users, is more likely. Meehan explained that much of the enforcement is instead targeted at people selling the devices, as well as businesses showing illegal streams – such as football matched screened in pubs. However Meehan warned: 'individuals should not think that they are immune from prosecution.' What are the dangers of using illegal streaming devices? Using illegal streaming sticks comes with significant risks, particularly the threat of being hacked or scammed. These devices expose users to cybercriminals who exploit their lack of regulation. Malicious software embedded in these devices or their apps can steal personal data, such as bank details or login credentials, leaving users vulnerable to identity theft. These devices also often connect to servers that are prone to phishing scams that prompt users to enter payment details for 'subscriptions,' only to drain accounts or install ransomware. These sticks can also compromise home networks, allowing hackers to infiltrate other connected devices. According to data compiled by Crimestoppers, some five million users of illegal streaming sticks experienced fraud, a virus or data theft in 2024, while 2.8 million were hacked – up a third from the previous year. Another 1.5 million users had money stolen and 2.6 million had some sort of problem with their connected devices.
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Daily Record
Sky warns illegal 'firestick' streamers they face being cut off after raids on homes and data centre
Detectives from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit executed search warrants in the early hours as Sky pledges to smash the streamers Sky has issued a stern warning to illegal streamers following a series of early morning raids. The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police carried out search warrants at two homes earlier this month. The operations are part of an initiative to clamp down on the widespread illegal streaming of sports and premium channels, often facilitated by devices such as 'dodgy' or 'fully loaded' Amazon Firesticks. The recent raids targeted two residential properties in Oldbury and a data centre in Cheltenham during 'the early hours'. Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, has indicated that further measures are imminent: "We are extremely grateful to the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit for taking this action against a significant pirate operation. "We will continue to work alongside the police and industry partners to tackle piracy and disrupt the criminal networks behind it. This action helps to keep consumers safe from the serious risks that piracy can pose to devices and personal property." A 30-year-old man suspected of operating the illicit streaming service and a 32-year-old woman accused of distributing copyrighted material and handling criminal property were arrested by the police. PIPCU's investigation suggests that the duo made substantial gains from their illegal enterprise. Seven servers, instrumental in the distribution of pirated content, were confiscated from a data centre. Police have expressed their belief that the operation has significantly disrupted numerous pirate services, reports Teesside Live. Subsequently, a business property in West Bromwich was raided, resulting in the seizure of documents and computers for detailed analysis. Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police commented: "This activity should serve as a reminder that PIPCU will pursue criminals who seek to profit from illegal streaming and disrupt their operations. "This is a crime that diverts funds away from the creative and entertainment industries, money that supports thousands of technical and support staff. At the same time, it exposes end users to the risks of data theft, fraud and malware." The illicit service provided unauthorised access to Sky channels. BeStreamWise reports that approximately one in three individuals in the UK who engage in illegal streaming admit that they, or someone they know, have fallen prey to fraud or identity theft as a consequence. Following the events, the man and woman implicated have been released while under investigation.
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Daily Mail
British streaming pirate who made £1million from illegal video sites and blew it on holidays and a £91k Jaguar sports car is jailed for three years
A British man who made £1million from illegal streaming sites before splurging it on extravagant holidays and a flashy £91,000 Jaguar coupe has been jailed for three years. Stephen Woodward, 36, from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, had been distributing copyrighted content through websites such as IPTV Hosting, Helix Hosting and Black and White TV. IPTV Hosting provided illegal access to more than 4,500 channels including Sky Sports and TNT Sports to end users and resellers for a fee, which Stephen racked up before indulging on designer clothes and jetting across the world. He also spent his down time driving around in a Jaguar F-Type V8, which is worth £91,000 and boasts a top speed of around 186mph. However, a major operation into Stephen's activity found subscriptions were paid for via card payments, 13 PayPal accounts owned by him and peer-to-peer payment services such as Circle. It was then discovered that the 36-year-old would exchange the money into cryptocurrency, convert it back to flat currency before depositing it across 23 bank accounts. This investigation led to police arresting Stephen and his brother Christopher Woodward, 34, who also received £126,000 from the sales of the illegal streaming sites. Following an investigation by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police, the brothers were sentenced at York Crown Court on July 11. Stephen was sentenced to three years and one month in prison after he pleaded guilty at the same court on February 21, 2025, to distributing articles infringing copyright and four money laundering offences. Christopher, also of Thirsk, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and must also complete 240 hours of unpaid work. He pleaded guilty at the same court on the same date to money laundering. Investigators additionally secured an all-assets restraint order against a total of £1.1 million held by Stephen. A further £144,121 worth of cash seized from Stephen during the investigation was also frozen. These funds, in addition to jewellery seized by officers from Stephen's address, will now be subject to confiscation proceedings. Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt, of City of London Police, said: 'Illegal streaming weakens the creative industries by diverting money away from legitimate businesses and into the hands of criminals like Stephen Woodward. 'Lost revenue as a result of illegal streaming means fewer jobs and less investment in future opportunities. It's estimated that this criminal activity contributes to over 80,000 job losses each year alone. 'Stephen was brazen in running his illegal steaming websites. Despite being the subject of a criminal investigation, he had clearly not learned his lesson and yet again attempted to gain financially from his illegal activity. 'His sentencing and upcoming confiscation proceedings should send a message that there are significant consequences for criminals who enable illegal access to copyrighted content.' Stephen was arrested in November 2019. During a search of his home officers seized a computer, a hard drive and nine phones, as well as £4,760 in cash found in a desk drawer in his living room. Around 100 envelopes, each containing a SIM card with a name written on it, were also seized. Stephen used the SIM cards to help open PayPal and bank accounts using false identities he had bought online. He was released under investigation while enquiries continued, before PIPCU analysis of his phone uncovered evidence to show that he had been in communication with various companies to assist with the running of IPTV Hosting. In his messages to Christopher, Stephen said that he was making £100,000 a month through illegal streaming. In 2020, while the investigation into IPTV Hosting was underway, officers were alerted by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) that Stephen had started running two further illegal streaming websites, Black and White TV and Helix Hosting. The websites provided illegal access to watch Premier League matches, as well as over 6,500 channels from around the world. Officers from PIPCU arrested Stephen for the second time and searched his home address in July 2020. He told officers that 'the cash is in the same place as last time', referring to the desk drawer in his living room, from which around £28,600 in cash was seized, before he was again released under investigation. In October 2022, Stephen was detained by Border Force officers at Gatwick whilst attempting to board a flight to Vancouver. Three bundles of cash, worth a total of £10,870, were seized from his luggage. The cash seized by BTP and Border Force officers was incorporated into PIPCU's investigation. The three websites run by Stephen are no longer in operation.
