HIROSHIMA (TR) – A man posing as an authority figure here exploited Japan’s newly implemented bicycle traffic laws to swindle a high school student out of cash, police revealed, reports TV Asahi (Apr. 10).
The incident occurred in Kure City around 8:00 a.m. on April 4. The male victim, a high school student, was riding his bicycle and had just crossed the road onto a sidewalk when he was intercepted by a lone man.
According to police, the suspect — described as being in his 50s and dressed in dark blue work clothes resembling a uniform — falsely claimed the teen had committed a traffic violation under the newly enacted “blue ticket” enforcement system.
“You didn’t use hand signals,” the man told the teenager. “The law changed on April 4, and you have to use hand signals. It’s a violation, so you need to pay 2,000 yen”.
Intimidated by the encounter, the teenager handed over the 2,000 yen in cash on the spot. The brazen scam came to light after the victim later reported the incident to the Hiroshima Prefectural Police.
Inconsistencies
Authorities pointed out several glaring inconsistencies in the con artist’s claims. The new blue ticket system for cyclists, which targets riders aged 16 and older, actually went into effect on April 1, not April 4. Furthermore, the actual fine for failing to use hand signals is 5,000 yen.
Most importantly, police stressed that officers will absolutely never collect fine money directly from violators in cash on the street. Official traffic penalties must be paid through a designated financial institution.
With the recent rollout of the new traffic regulations, police are urging the public to be on high alert for similar scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly young people who may be unaware of official legal procedures. Investigators are currently searching for the suspect on suspicion of fraud.
