If you read that and made anything between an audible gulp and a vintage Gary Neville, 'Oooo', the chances are you're well aware of the 'dodgy box/Fire Stick' trend that has arisen among Premier League fans in recent years - and for anyone who has one, it could soon mean a knock at the door as part of an impending crackdown.

That's according to ex-police detective turned television presenter, Rav Wilding, who recently appeared on the BBC's Morning Live programme to warn that the criminal Amazon Fire TV Stick market and similar 'jailbreak' streaming loopholes are set to be combated by new detection methods and more stringent investigations.

So, woe betide those somehow managing to watch the 3pm kick-offs...

The Increasing Crackdown

While plenty are familiar with the TV license people sending initial emails, even cautionary texts, strongly worded emails and letters, before eventually turning up at homes and trying to quiz people on their devices and service use, not everyone is aware that these increasingly popular workarounds are currently being used by millions and, if anything, have only become more rife of late.

Of course, many are quick to turn away these kinds of inspectors regardless of whether or not they're flouting the licensing rules, but as per Wilding's recent insight, while "owning a stick itself is not a crime", using them to illegally access content certainly is.

What Exactly is a 'Dodgy' Box/Fire Stick?

Given the rising costs of broadband packages and, notably, broadcasting deals when it comes to the likes of the Premier League and other top-flight football competitions, specifically, these sticks have offered an alternative way to watch live sport, pirated versions of movies that have only just been released, series that have already aired overseas, and more via illegal apps.

Essentially, an estimated four million people in the UK alone are believed to be in possession of these sticks, and police are already clamping down on distributors and other parties harder than ever, which will inevitably mean looking into those paying these people for these premium, albeit counterfeit, subscription services.

As he goes on to explain, once authorities have the details of these sellers, "they’re going through their accounts" and, you guessed it, "seeing who has been paying money for these illegal things", adding that "people should possibly expect a conversation or two" when officers ask why they've been carrying out these transactions.

In fact, Kieron Sharp, the chairman of the Federation of Copyright Theft (FACT), is said in a statement issued to the Daily Mail:

Once again, we know this won't be a problem for the vast majority of you, but for hypothetical individuals now checking to see their bank statements and history of transactions, or those who, at the very least, have been considering copping one of these dodgy boxes: we'd recommend you think twice and tread carefully.