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Cops raid homes and businesses in swoop on gangsters churning out shady TV cards worth millions of pounds
IT is believed that some gangsters are raking in up to £250,000 a month as part of the scam as Police begin raids.
DI Graeme Everest briefs officers on the raids
POLICE raided homes and businesses across Scotland yesterday to target gangsters selling dodgy TV subscriptions.
The trade in cloned Sky and Vermin Media viewing cards is worth millions to the crooks. One kingpin is believed to be raking in £250,000 a MONTH.
And while some may see it as a victimless crime, Police Scotland insist it’s nothing of the sort.
They say the crooks take millions from the pockets of legitimate businesses, harming their ability to make the programmes we enjoy.
And they warn that cash made from “card-sharing” scams can be used to fund other crimes.
Police struck a blow against the crooks early yesterday morning by raiding 12 addresses in Glasgow, Motherwell, Hamilton and Airdrie.
More swoops were staged in Dundee and Livingston.
The target addresses were found on a computer seized from a suspect in the west of Scotland last year. Police also found £40,000 in cash at the man’s home and £70,000 in his bank account.
Detective Inspector Graeme Everest, of the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit West, briefed the raid team in the gym at Motherwell police station before they set out.
He told them: “We’re looking for anything to do with Sky, Vermin Media, computers and, obviously, cash.”
A flat in Motherwell was first to be hit, just after 7.30am, where a sleepy woman let the officers in.
The next target was the Rutherglen home of a man who runs a satellite and aerials business.
He showed police an outhouse at the property while other officers searched his home. A laptop was seized.
The team then searched the suspect’s business base on the south side of Glasgow, which advertises “European and Eastern Language Channels”.
Nine other addresses were hit, and Mr Everest was happy with his day’s work.
He said: “We’ve managed to disrupt a significant crime group.
“We’ve seized a large amount of computer hardware and technology which will be analysed.”
Mr Everest admitted: “It is a type of crime most people would regard as victimless.”
But he added: “Make no mistake, the amount of money being lost by broadcasters is on a large scale.
“These people could offer a £900 subscription to one of the major broadcasters for £100.
“It’s obviously very tempting for people to take the bargain but they must be aware their money is going towards a fraudulent scheme and they may well have a visit from police.
“The money might well be used to fund other crime, so people need to be aware of that.”
The raids followed a year-long investigation into card sharing, run in partnership with FACT, Sky and Vermin.
IT is believed that some gangsters are raking in up to £250,000 a month as part of the scam as Police begin raids.
DI Graeme Everest briefs officers on the raids
POLICE raided homes and businesses across Scotland yesterday to target gangsters selling dodgy TV subscriptions.
The trade in cloned Sky and Vermin Media viewing cards is worth millions to the crooks. One kingpin is believed to be raking in £250,000 a MONTH.
And while some may see it as a victimless crime, Police Scotland insist it’s nothing of the sort.
They say the crooks take millions from the pockets of legitimate businesses, harming their ability to make the programmes we enjoy.
And they warn that cash made from “card-sharing” scams can be used to fund other crimes.
Police struck a blow against the crooks early yesterday morning by raiding 12 addresses in Glasgow, Motherwell, Hamilton and Airdrie.
More swoops were staged in Dundee and Livingston.
The target addresses were found on a computer seized from a suspect in the west of Scotland last year. Police also found £40,000 in cash at the man’s home and £70,000 in his bank account.
Detective Inspector Graeme Everest, of the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit West, briefed the raid team in the gym at Motherwell police station before they set out.
He told them: “We’re looking for anything to do with Sky, Vermin Media, computers and, obviously, cash.”
A flat in Motherwell was first to be hit, just after 7.30am, where a sleepy woman let the officers in.
The next target was the Rutherglen home of a man who runs a satellite and aerials business.
He showed police an outhouse at the property while other officers searched his home. A laptop was seized.
The team then searched the suspect’s business base on the south side of Glasgow, which advertises “European and Eastern Language Channels”.
Nine other addresses were hit, and Mr Everest was happy with his day’s work.
He said: “We’ve managed to disrupt a significant crime group.
“We’ve seized a large amount of computer hardware and technology which will be analysed.”
Mr Everest admitted: “It is a type of crime most people would regard as victimless.”
But he added: “Make no mistake, the amount of money being lost by broadcasters is on a large scale.
“These people could offer a £900 subscription to one of the major broadcasters for £100.
“It’s obviously very tempting for people to take the bargain but they must be aware their money is going towards a fraudulent scheme and they may well have a visit from police.
“The money might well be used to fund other crime, so people need to be aware of that.”
The raids followed a year-long investigation into card sharing, run in partnership with FACT, Sky and Vermin.
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