Question from a reader:
I asked someone on Twitter to let me stay because I said I had no money, and after receiving transportation costs, I was blocked. Is this a legal issue? The person claims to be 18 years old and I received about 23,000 yen. What do you think?

Twitter Troubles and Legal Perspectives

Hello everyone. Today, I want to
talk about a somewhat serious topic. Recently, I received a consultation from a reader who was asked on Twitter to let someone stay because they said they had no money, and after giving them transportation costs, they were blocked. I want to think about what legal issues might arise from this.

Clarifying the Situation

First, let’s clarify the situation of the person seeking advice. They mentioned that the other party is 18 years old and received about 23,000 yen for transportation costs, but what exactly transpired in their communication? Asking someone to let you stay is quite common in this age of social media. However, when money is involved in such requests, the situation becomes a bit more complicated. In this case, unlike asking friends or acquaintances, the act of giving transportation costs to a stranger on social media is included. We need to consider whether this was a “goodwill act” or a “fraudulent act.”

Looking at the Legal Perspective

Now, let’s consider this issue from a legal perspective. First, there are special provisions regarding contracts for minors (in this case, an 18-year-old). According to civil law, contracts made by minors are generally voidable, which is intended to protect them. Therefore, if the other party is indeed 18 years old, if any trouble arises, they may not necessarily have an obligation to pay you back. Additionally, if you are seeking money from the other party, you will need evidence of a “promise.” For example, whether there was a clear agreement like “I will promise to stay for this money.” If there was no such agreement, it might be difficult to get back the 23,000 yen after being blocked.

Possibility of Fraud

What’s concerning here is whether the other party genuinely intended to stay or if they aimed to obtain money from you for some reason. If it’s the latter, this could potentially fall under fraud. Article 246 of the Civil Code states, “If someone deceives another and causes them to deliver property, fraud is established.” This means that even if you paid in good faith believing in the other party, if they are found to have intentionally deceived you to obtain money, it could become a legal issue. However, for it to be classified as fraud, the other party’s “intent” must be proven. In other words, you must demonstrate that they were trying to deceive you. This proof will likely hinge on the exchanges and message history on social media.

Emotional Aspects and Relationships

Now, putting the legal discussion aside, I’d like to consider this from an emotional perspective. Many of you may have experienced this, but relationships formed through social media can be very complex. Especially when money is involved, friendships and trust can crumble in an instant. It’s truly a sad event that you tried to help someone by letting them stay, only to be blocked. This is because you approached them with sincerity, yet your actions were betrayed. Such experiences leave lingering feelings of confusion in your heart. Moreover, encounters and exchanges on social media make it difficult to gauge the true intentions of the other party. In face-to-face communication, you can read someone’s feelings through their expressions and tone of voice, but that’s not possible with just text.

Future Measures and Advice

So, how can we prevent such troubles in the future? Here are a few pieces of advice. 1. Form a clear agreement: When money is involved, always establish a written agreement. It’s important to clarify “what will be done for this amount” in your messages. 2. Check the other party’s background: Especially when interacting with strangers on social media, it’s crucial to review their profile and past posts. If possible, meeting in person would be even better. 3. Be cautious with monetary exchanges: Financial transactions on social media come with risks. Try to avoid them or, if necessary, only conduct them with trusted individuals. 4. Consult a legal expert if needed: If the trouble escalates, consider consulting a legal professional. Issues that you cannot resolve alone may be addressed with the help of a professional.

Conclusion

This time, we considered financial troubles on social media. From both a legal and emotional perspective, such incidents are very delicate. Especially when money is involved, relationships can easily break down, so caution is essential. Please be aware of these points to avoid getting yourself or those around you into similar troubles. Until next time, see you in the next blog!