"Unforgivable" - A Florist's Anger: What is the "Stand Flower Scam" Rampant in the Idol Industry? Unpaid Bills on the Rise, a New Risk Shaking the Fan Culture

1. What is a "Stand Flower" Anyway? — The Visualization of Support Rooted in Japanese Performance Culture

While bouquets and gift-giving customs exist in overseas concert cultures, in the context of Japanese idol performances, theater, and live house events, large decorative flowers known as "stand flowers (flower stands)" lined up at the venue entrance or lobby serve as a symbol and make a significant impact.

Stand flowers are more than just gifts; they are "banners of support."
They are crafted as "works" that include color schemes matching the name of the favorite, group, or performance (known as "favorite colors"), specifications of floral materials, and the design of the nameplate. It's not uncommon for attendees to take photos and share them on social media.

According to reports, in large venues, numerous stand flowers may be displayed, with the price per unit averaging around 20,000 yen. It is common for participants to be recruited on social media with "how much per share," and they are typically given as a joint gift.ENCOUNT
This "everyone contributes" system fosters solidarity among fans and creates a sense of achievement in supporting their favorites. However, it also concentrates funds and trust in the hands of the organizer, creating opportunities for fraud.

2. What Happened — The Mechanism of "Stand Flower Fraud" Through "Non-payment"

The issue at hand is not with the recipients of the flowers (artists or venues) but with the inability of the florists who produce and deliver the flowers to collect payment, resulting in losses.

ENCOUNT reports that a stand flower sales company in Tokyo delivered a total of 11 orders amounting to 421,500 yen over a certain period but has not been able to collect a single yen in payment. ENCOUNT
Furthermore, it is reported that several companies in Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Saitama have suffered similar damages using the same method, with the total amount potentially reaching several million yen.ENCOUNT

The key point is that "the flowers are delivered, set up at the venue, and photographed."
In other words, from the outside, it appears to be a "successful fan activity." The more impressive it looks, the more the organizer appears to be "trustworthy." This "staging of a successful experience" leads to further victims.

3. The Core of the Scheme — The Combination of "Corporate Name," "Invoice Payment," and "False Information"

The scheme depicted in the report is a typical case of "borrowing trust."

3-1. Gaining Trust by Using a "Corporate Name"

The victimized company usually required prepayment or card payment for individual orders, but allowed invoice payment for corporations, which was exploited.ENCOUNT

Invoice payment (post-payment) is a common practice in business transactions. The florist side also tends to lower the psychological barrier, thinking "it will surely be paid" when a corporate name is involved.

However, the report states that the corporate name used at the time of the order was that of an unrelated company, and the company received invoices from multiple florists, prompting them to consult the police, saying they had "no recollection" of the orders.ENCOUNT
This is not just a case of non-payment but a malicious pattern suspected of "impersonation," using a third party's company name without permission.

3-2. Contact Information is "Mobile" and "Gmail," Address is "Vacant Land"

Despite using a corporate name, the contact information was a mobile phone and Gmail, the name was an alias, and the address, when visited, was vacant land.ENCOUNT
This combination is a strong warning sign in practical terms. Despite this, the damage expanded, likely due to the "unique circumstances of fan activities" discussed later.

3-3. When Pressed, They "Buy Time with Plausible Excuses"

When pressed for payment, responses such as "I forgot to forward it to accounting," "Is next month okay?" or "I'll pay immediately" were given, making it difficult to determine whether it was a delay or fraud until the deadline passed.ENCOUNT
"Making it look like a delay" is a classic tactic in non-payment fraud. By the time the other party starts to suspect, they move on to the next store, suggesting a cycle.ENCOUNT

4. Why Was It Not Detected? — The "Attention to Detail" in Fan Activities Reinforces Trust

The report is striking in that the orderer was unusually "enthusiastic."

There were orders for floral materials and favorite colors, detailed customization beyond catalog selection, joint names on nameplates, and even how to take setup photos.ENCOUNT

The florist side perceived them as "a meticulous and reliable person."ENCOUNT

In the world of fan activities, attention to detail is not uncommon.
Therefore, actions that would appear as "unnatural obsession" in general transactions are interpreted as "evidence of passion" in the fan activity realm, inadvertently boosting trust. This is the tricky part.

In another example from a florist, it was reported that they did not suspect anything because the orderer posted photos of the delivered stand flowers on social media.ENCOUNT
Since it outwardly appears as "a properly active organizer," the damage tends to spread easily.

5. Who Does the Damage Affect? — It's Not Just a Florist Issue

This problem is not just about "florists being careful." Secondary damage spreads to all parties involved.

5-1. Florists: Losses in Material Costs, Labor, and Delivery

Due to the nature of stand flowers being fresh flowers, returns and resale are difficult, and the floral materials used for production are basically non-recoverable.
The more complete the delivery, the more certain the loss, and additional operational burdens such as recovery work and photography arise on-site.

5-2. Participating Fans: Money Paid in Good Faith Disappears, and They Get Caught in the Backlash

Fans who participated with "how much per share" often send money to the organizer, and if the organizer is fraudulent, fans may also suffer financial damage.
When non-payment becomes public, participants may face unrelated slander such as "Are participants accomplices?" or "The civility of the fan community," causing the community to become turbulent.

5-3. Venue and Management: Distrust in the Entire Acceptance Process

Stand flowers are managed under venue rules (size, delivery time, recovery, nameplate display, prohibition of hazardous materials, etc.).
If non-payments become frequent, the venue may move towards "strict regulation/restriction of stand flowers," ultimately reducing the enjoyment of "serious fans."

5-4. Artists: Shrinking Support Culture

Even though the artist is not involved in the fraud, the impression that "fraud occurred at the favorite's event" remains.
If stand flowers, once a symbol of support, become a "subject of suspicion," the culture will shrink. This benefits no one in the long run.

6. Practical Measures (For Florists and Producers) — Creating a "Safe Order System"

From here, we will organize practical measures to prevent recurrence structurally, rather than blaming specific businesses.

6-1. Stop Assuming "Corporate Name = Safety": Redesigning Post-payment Conditions

It's not necessary to completely stop invoice payments, but simply implementing the following stages can reduce risks.

• As a rule, the first transaction is "prepayment (card/bank transfer)" only

• In cases where post-payment is exceptionally allowed, verify registration information and confirm the presence of the person in charge (callback to the company's main number, official domain email)

• For amounts above a certain level, require a deposit (e.g., 50%) + prepayment of the balance

• Accept that event-related spot transactions are "difficult to credit"

In cases like the current one, where "an unrelated company's name is used," confirming the person in charge and ensuring contact information consistency are extremely important.ENCOUNT

6-2. Share Typical Signs of "Suspicious Orders"

Although it is difficult to see due to the passion in fan activities, from the perspective of general transactions, the following are red flags.

• Despite being a corporate name, the contact information is a mobile phone and free email (Gmail, etc.)

• The address is vague/not verifiable on a map/no nameplate or room number

• Even when payment delays occur, "polite excuses" continue

• Sudden high-value or large orders (losses skyrocket if uncollectible)ENCOUNT

When you feel "Is this discomfort normal because it's a fan activity?" on-site, it's effective to mechanically