Sneaky License Plate Goes Viral After Internet Spots the Hidden Message
A license plate spotted in a Perth shopping center has become the latest unexpected viral hit, all thanks to a bit of optical trickery and online sleuthing. At first glance, the plate on a Kia Sportage didn’t seem out of the ordinary—until people took a closer look.
Shared by a Facebook user named Jeffrey on The Bell Tower Times 2.0, the plate reads 370HSSV. While it might look random, flipping it upside down tells a different story. The characters rearrange visually to resemble the word ‘ahe’, sparking a wave of laughter and disbelief online.
The post quickly took off, generating thousands of likes, shares, and tongue-in-cheek comments. Many applauded the creativity, calling it a hilarious and genius move. Others were surprised the plate had made it past Western Australia’s stringent review process, which last year blocked nearly 1,000 personalized plates for being inappropriate or offensive.
Among those banned were combinations like SAUC3D, RAMP4GE, F4K3 T4XI, and BUYAGRAM—many of which were flagged for hinting at vulgarity or illegal behavior.
It turns out, men make up the bulk of custom plate requests, though not every creative submission makes the cut. This one, however, cleverly flew under the radar—until the internet caught on.
The viral moment is a perfect example of how a bit of clever mischief, amplified by social media, can turn something as mundane as a license plate into a global talking point.
Whether it was all part of the plan or a happy accident, the driver behind the cheeky plate has become an unlikely star of internet culture—one flipped character at a time.