Kagawa Prefectural Police sent a report to prosecutors Tuesday on a 23-year-old man who allegedly begged for money online, police said.

The police said the unemployed man from Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, whose name was not disclosed, posted a live message on a website using a personal computer on Jan. 6 saying that he hadn't received any New Year's gift and asked people who saw the website to approach him around JR Takamatsu Station and put money in his cup.

One of the people who saw the website notified the police, and the man admitted begging online, according to the police.

The law states a person can be taken into custody or fined for begging, but it is rare for police to pursue criminal charges for begging online.