Fresh warning sent to people using 'dodgy' Fire Sticks - bank details could be stolen in new scam | OneFootball

Consumers have been warned of the risks of using modded Amazon Fire Sticks

Bank details can be stolen through the use of modded Amazon Fire Sticks.

According to a report from the Guardian, consumers have been warned of the risks of using these devices through their laptop or TV.

Modded Amazon Fire Sticks have become a popular method to watch the latest in TV and sport, including the EFL.

These Fire Sticks are jailbroken, allowing consumers access to channels that could otherwise cost expensive monthly subscriptions.

However, people are now being warned of the risks that they are taking by using them instead of sticking with the regular means to watch these channels and services.

Consumers warned of the financial risks of Modded Amazon Fire Sticks

Consumers have been warned that their bank details could be stolen through the use of these Fire Sticks, along with passwords being accessed and potentially their whole identity traded through the internet.

It has been claimed through a survey conducted by BeStreamWise that two out of every five people who used these illegal services were themselves defrauded as a consequence.

Fire Sticks can be purchased online for as little as £20, and it offers a wide variety of channels, but it comes with the risk of losing, on average, around £1,700 per person that is defrauded.

An ethical hacker (i.e. someone who uses their skills to test the cybersecurity of companies in a professional capacity for the benefit of that company), Rob Shapland has told consumers to be wary of potential scams, claiming that people are open to being defrauded the second a device is plugged into a TV or laptop.

“Alongside the stream [of TV or sports] it will also install some malware on to your computer and give the criminal direct access to your computer so [they] could use it as if they were sitting there,” said Shapland, via the Guardian.

“Or they can install keyloggers which will record any password you are typing. So when you are accessing online banking, it will record your banking passwords. You are essentially volunteering to have your laptop hacked in many cases.”

The EFL’s £895 million broadcasting deal

The EFL are impacted through the use of Fire Sticks, with the device proving an increasingly popular method to access Sky Sports.

The broadcaster confirmed in 2024 that they have renewed their rights to show the Championship, League One, League Two, the play-offs and the EFL Cup after an agreement worth £895 million.

The deal runs until the end of the 2028/29 campaign, and it means teams share a pot worth £179 million per season.

The EFL and Sky Sports will be keen to see a crackdown on these devices in order to protect against their IP.

Clubs across these divisions rely heavily on this money, so it will also be important to their bottom line as well.

The rising costs of every day if driving people towards piracy

Given the rising cost of bills and groceries, it’s no surprise that luxury goods like subscription services for entertainment are feeling the impact of piracy.

People are finding it harder and harder to afford this balance, and modded Amazon Fire Sticks offer them a cheaper alternative to access their favourite forms of entertainment, including the EFL.

However, these devices do leave people open to the possibility of being scammed, particularly if they are not tech-savvy and are unsure of how to keep their online identity secure.