Raid on local fair results in arrest of five games pirates

[wraggster]

Five people have been arrested at a computer fair in Wolverhampton for selling pirated games, modified chips and 'chipped' consoles, following a raid by 30 local Police and Trading Standards officers.

The raid took place on the evening of Tuesday 11th April, following successful test purchases by an ELSPA investigator on behalf of Wolverhampton City Council Trading Standards.

The two stalls targeted were offering games and digital media made to order, as well as a chipping service for Xbox and Playstation 2 consoles. Officials found approximately 50 modified chips and wiring diagrams behind one of the stalls. They also uncovered 'downgrader' software for Sony's PSP console and a large number of pirated PSP titles.

The five people arrested were held over night in jail and two of the suspects' homes were searched. Officials discovered two fully operational piracy 'factories' - inside one home and in the garage of the other house - containing four computers, nine burning towers and numerous computer and video game master copies.

ELSPA works closely with local Police and Trading Standards across the country, said Michael Rawlinson, deputy director general of ELSPA. We were pleased to assist the Wolverhampton authorities in this case and would like to thank all involved for their hard work in uncovering these counterfeiting operations.

A financial investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act is underway. This can lead to serious financial loss for those criminals involved.

That was a press release from elspa

[grin.ch]

This reminds me of when I was in Korea. I would go down to the video game store in the mall and buy pirated games for 7 bucks. (for PSX and at this time, the games were new releases) I had a mod chip put in my PSX and remember buying FFVII for 20 bucks. The guy that pwned the store would go to Japan every weekend to buy the pirated games and resell them. It was so funny seeing the "Please prevent piracy" screen while the game was loading. And over there, you can get so many games you could never get in the united states. I remember a game called "Mad Panic Coaster" where you were in a roller coaster car and you had to make it jump over holes in the tracks and over zombies and stuff. Asia has it all when it comes to video games. Man, I wish I lived there.

[Apoklepz]

Very smart of them to put up sales in a computer fair...Give out flyers with a phone number that won't trace the cops directly to you next time.....A friend of mine did the Piracy thing with DVD's three years for a while, but things started to get ugly so he backed out just in time. He doesn't support piracy anymore, but he likes to say if you're gonna sell it, approach the customer in the least expected place, supermarket, barber shop, gas station, etc. and hand them a card with an untraceable number, like a public phone etc.

I bet the cops are having loads of fun with their findings too.... *******s.

[PoorWhiteTrash]

That is what happens when you are stupid enough to get caught.

[nal]

my question is, is a psp downgrader and mod chips unlawfull? you do on your system and should be able to do what ever the hell you want with it...am i right on this?

[chronoswing]

Meh they probably won't be able to do anything about the mod chips but they can prosicute them for selling illegal copie's of games.

[felonyr301]

dont do the CRIME if you cant do the TIME yEAa

[moogster66]

They might as well have flown the skull and crossbones over the stall! AAARRRGGGHHH!

[KriMe]

What im wondering is why it took 30 cops to take down 5 guys.. It probablly cost the american tax payers several thousand dollars plus a coupple hundred man hours not to mention now they have to go to trial.

Personally I think its a waste of time and money. Those 30 cops could have been out stopping real criminals that do physical harm and not monotary harm to the general public. I just dont undersand it. I bet after these guys are out of jail and have paid off their fines they will go back to doing it again.

I myself dont understand the point, its a waste of time, money and resourses. The honest people will stay honest and the dis-honest ones wont, its something that will never change.

[Forever~Zero]

5 people? That's really nothing compared to Malaysia. Every PS2 and Xbox here have mod chips in it and they are selling it in the public. The police can even walk past a few shops selling them. Same goes with computer games.