Fake Bear Video Footage Used to Scam Car Insurance Company

According to a recent California Department of Insurance report press release, suspects allegedly wore a bear costume to commit insurance fraud amounting to $141,839.

Operation Bear Claw

The report identifies local LA residents as suspects in an insurance claim scam for claims made back on January 28, 2024, in the region of Lake Arrowhead where the suspects testified that a bear entered their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost and caused interior damage to the vehicle.

Suspicion grew as two additional similar insurance claims with two different insurance companies were also filed for bear damage of a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350.

Per the report:

"Four Los Angeles area residents were arrested today after a Department of Insurance investigation found the suspects allegedly committed insurance fraud by claiming a bear had caused damage to their vehicles, but it was actually a person in a bear costume. Ruben Tamrazian, 26, of Glendale, Ararat Chirkinian, 39, of Glendale, Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, of Glendale, and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village, were all arrested on charges of insurance fraud and conspiracy. An arrest warrant has been issued for a fifth suspect, who is currently outstanding."

So bizarre were the claims and footage supplied by the claimants that a wildlife biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife was asked to review the three alleged bear videos, of which he told them that their suspicions were correct―it was clearly a human in a bear suit.

The fake bear charges were further confirmed when "After executing a search warrant, detectives found the bear costume in one suspect's home."

Here is an NBC-LA Channel 4 news story covering the case with video footage showing the fake bear in action:

How Fake Bear Attack Suspects Were Busted

For a better video, here is a link showing the barest of evidence in the case used against the claimants.

For additional crime-related car news stories, here are three for your consideration:

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• Gas Thieves are Damaging Cars
• TeslaCam Credited With Criminal Capture Involving a BB Gun Incident on Highway

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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