Tourists are being warned to beware scammers using ‘cup and ball’ games to con people out of money in central London.
Westminster City Council says illegal street gamblers are operating in the area - and fear they will strike increasingly as more visitors pour into the capital for the King’s Coronation and the busy summer season.
A recent operation carried out with the Met Police on Westminster Bridge saw two people arrested, four community protection notices issued, and a peanut trolley seized - all over illegal street trading and hygiene concerns.
A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: “As central London gets ready to welcomes more visitors for the summer and Coronation celebrations, City Inspectors are preparing for cases like this to grow.
“The long-term strategy is to deter illegal street trading and gambling across Westminster Bridge, safeguarding residents and visitors.
“Other hotspots where the council is warning tourists to be vigilant are Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Madame Tussauds, Regents, and Hyde Park.”
Westminster City Council says officials will be carrying out more checks on Westminster Bridge and in other hotspots, to ensure scammers and unlicensed traders stay away.
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Public Protection and Licensing, Cllr Aicha Less added: “We are about to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors for the King’s Coronation and the summer, but these scammers threaten to spoil the public’s experience.
“All licensed street performers and vendors in Westminster have gone through a strict process to have their licenses granted, and our teams make sure high standards are maintained.
“My warning to visitors is to be vigilant, street gambling or fast-food look like an easy win or convenient but are never as they seem. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
