Authorities in California have uncovered an unusual insurance fraud scheme involving staged “bear attacks” on high-end vehicles, revealing the alleged culprit to be a person dressed in a bear costume. Four individuals from the Los Angeles area are now facing charges of insurance fraud and conspiracy.
The California Department of Insurance began investigating the matter after a suspicious claim was submitted in January 2024. A group of suspects had reported extensive interior damage to a 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost, claiming a bear had entered the vehicle in Lake Arrowhead. Alongside their claim, they provided video footage purportedly showing a bear rummaging through the car’s interior.
The footage, while initially convincing, raised doubts upon closer examination. Investigators noticed inconsistencies in the behavior and appearance of the “bear.” To confirm their suspicions, the Department of Fish and Wildlife enlisted a biologist to analyze the video. The expert concluded that the supposed bear was, in fact, “clearly a human in a bear suit.”
A search warrant executed at one of the suspect’s residences uncovered key evidence, including the bear costume and handheld claw-like tools believed to have been used to inflict the damage.
Further inquiries revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Two additional fraudulent claims were filed under similar circumstances. These involved a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350, each supposedly damaged by the same “bear” at the same location. The total value of the claims amounted to more than $141,000, according to officials.
The suspects, identified as Ruben Tamrazian, 26; Ararat Chirkinian, 39; Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, all from Glendale; and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village, were arrested and charged. The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution.
