Two more charged over pay TV piracy scam

Two Sydney men will face the Downing Centre Court today in connection to an alleged syndicate involved in producing illegal pay television cards.

In April, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) seized hundreds of fake pay television encryption cards and set-top decoders in Victoria, NSW and Queensland after a six-month investigation. Two Victorian men were charged at the time.

The AFP also seized cash in excess of $173,000, computer equipment and smart cards from a Sydney property.

Following extensive analysis of the seized computers, a 43-year-old Ashfield man and a 42-year North Ryde man have been charged over the production of fake smart cards also known as ‘gamma’ cards.

The smart cards allow people to access the Foxtel and Austar pay television networks without a subscription.

The 43-year-old man has been charged with making and distributing unauthorised decoders contrary to Section 135 of the Copyright Act 1968, and with possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to Section 400.9 of the Criminal Code 1995.

The 42-year-old has been charged with distributing unauthorised decoders contrary to Section 135 of the Copyright Act 1968, and with possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to Section 400.9 of the Criminal Code 1995.

The maximum penalty for the copyright offences is five years imprisonment and two years imprisonment for the proceeds of crime offence.