In Indian culture, bending down to touch an elder’s feet is the ultimate gesture of humility and respect. It disarms you instantly. But imagine someone using that sacred tradition as a decoy to strip an elderly woman of her most prized possessions in broad daylight.
That is precisely what happened to a 78-year-old Indian-origin woman during an evening walk in Brampton, Canada. The crime has sent shockwaves through the diaspora, exposing a chilling, highly calculated form of street-level deceit.
The ‘Blessing Scam’: What Happened in Brampton?
According to reports, the elderly woman was enjoying her usual evening walk when a white SUV pulled up beside her. A woman stepped out of the vehicle, walked directly toward her, bent down to touch her feet, and pulled her into a warm hug.
The victim, who does not speak English fluently, assumed the stranger was a familiar neighbour offering customary regards. For roughly ten seconds, she dropped her guard entirely.
During those few seconds of physical contact, the suspect pulled off a sleight-of-hand manoeuvre. She unclasped the victim’s authentic gold chain, slipped a cheap imitation piece around her neck to maintain the weight, and allegedly took her gold bangles as well. The suspect then climbed back into the SUV and sped away.
The victim lost roughly 110 grams of gold jewellery valued at roughly $20,000 (around ₹13 lakh). The loss was not just financial. The jewellery was crafted by her late husband, a goldsmith, for their wedding in 1971. The shock left the elderly heart patient shivering and unable to speak for half an hour, bringing an abrupt end to her evening walks.
What The Law Says: Deception, Theft, and Snatching Under BNS
While Canadian authorities (Peel Regional Police) are currently investigating the crime, similar distraction scams happen frequently on Indian roads. Posing as a long-lost relative, asking for directions, or touching feet to swap real ornaments for brass is a documented modus operandi.
If a crime like this takes place on an Indian street, several provisions of India’s criminal code—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS)—come straight into play.
1. Theft (Section 303 of BNS)
Under Section 303(2) of the BNS (formerly Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code), theft occurs whenever someone moves movable property out of another person’s possession without their consent, with dishonest intent. Taking bangles and swapping a necklace without the owner’s knowledge is textbook theft, punishable with up to three years of imprisonment, a fine, or both.
2. Snatching (Section 304 of BNS)
One major advancement in the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is the formal introduction of Snatching as an independent offence under Section 304. Previously under the IPC, snatching had to be shoehorned under regular theft or robbery.
Under Section 304, theft becomes snatching if the offender suddenly, quickly, or forcibly seizes, grabs, or takes away property from any person. If the ornaments were taken using quick sleight of hand or rapid unhooking from the body, the accused faces imprisonment of up to three years along with a fine.
3. Cheating by Impersonation (Section 318 and 319 of BNS)
The act of pretending to be a respectful community member or placing fake jewellery around the victim’s neck to conceal the crime brings in the element of fraud. Section 318 of BNS (formerly IPC Section 415/420) deals with cheating. If an offender intentionally deceives a victim into believing they are receiving goodwill or genuine items, they are liable for cheating, which carries penal consequences of up to three or seven years depending on the severity.
The Blurred Line Between Theft and Robbery
A common legal question is whether such an act amounts to Robbery (Section 309 of BNS). Theft turns into robbery when the offender causes, or attempts to cause, death, hurt, or wrongful restraint, or instills the fear of instant hurt.
In pure distraction scams where the victim does not even realize the theft occurred until the culprit has left, the offence generally remains classified as theft accompanied by cheating. However, if the victim resists during the hug and the perpetrator uses physical force to wrench the chain away, the crime immediately upgrades to robbery, which carries significantly harsher prison sentences.
Why This Matters For You
Senior citizens are primary targets for distraction thieves because they may have slower reaction times, health vulnerabilities, or language barriers. Criminals deliberately exploit cultural instincts—such as letting your guard down when an apparent youngster shows respect.
- Warn elderly family members: Advise parents and grandparents never to let unfamiliar individuals initiate physical contact, hugs, or touching of feet on public roads.
- Avoid walking with visible valuables: High-value sentimental gold chains should be tucked securely inside clothing or kept at home during daily walks.
- Preserve evidence: If an incident occurs, preserve nearby CCTV footage immediately. Modern residential security cameras often provide the vital vehicle registration numbers police need to track down the getaway car.
Cultural warmth and respect are values to cherish, but street awareness must always come first. When tradition is weaponized by con artists, the law treats it as nothing less than aggravated criminal deception.
Story reported by Top Trending News, Viral Videos, Latest Viral News, Odd News, Memes and Puzzles, Social Media Viral News | Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times. This article is BareLaw’s independent explanation and analysis.
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