A man has been arrested in East London as part of an ongoing operation by the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU).
The unit is investigating the sale of set-top boxes that have been illegally modified to stream pay-TV channels.
In raids, supported by the Metropolitan Poice Service, a business in Walthamstow and a home in Hornchurch were searched. There, a 38 year old man was arrested on suspicion of making/supplying articles for use in fraud, conspiracy to defraud, and two further offences contrary to the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act and Proceeds of Crime Act. He was further arrested for possessing a Class B drug.
Officers also seized over 500 IPTV set top boxes which are suspected of being illegally modified to allow access to subscription only channels. Further items seized include computer hardware and financial documentation.
The head of PIPCU, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Ratcliffe, said: “Today’s operation demonstrates how we work in collaboration with broadcasters to disrupt copyright related criminality. Those profiting from the illegal sale of modified set top boxes undermine honest subscription payers who deserve a fair deal. People who buy these devices leave themselves open to malware and viruses and their financial details being further used by fraudsters.”
The raids follow information that had been passed on by a broadcaster.
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