Los Angeles: Fake bear costume used by insurance fraudsters in bizarre $220,000 scam
In one of the most bizarre fraud schemes ever attempted, a group of people have been charged after acting as fake bears to attack vehicles before trying to claim against insurance policies.
Four Los Angeles residents have been arrested after an investigation by the California Department of Insurance revealed they allegedly used a life-sized bear costume to stage attacks on their vehicles in an attempt to secure a six-figure payout.
NPR is reporting that Ruben Tamrazian, 26; Ararat Chirkinian, 39; Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32; and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39— have been charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy with their alleged scam costing three insurance companies a total of $US141,839.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Operation Bear Claw” began earlier this year after one of their claims gave an insurance company pause.
In January, the suspects claimed that a bear had entered their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost and caused interior damage while it was parked in Lake Arrowhead, a region in the San Bernardino Mountains known for its large black bear population.
The suspects provided video footage of the alleged incident to their unnamed insurance company, which the department has since posted online. The video shows a furry figure entering through the side door, climbing around the backseat and crawling out, leaving scratch marks on the leather seats and door.
“Upon further scrutiny of the video, the investigation determined the bear was a person in a bear costume,” officials said.
“The Department had a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife review the three alleged bear videos and they also opined it was a human in a bear suit”.
Detectives executed a search warrant and found the bear costume which was easily outed as a fraud by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife who said black bears are the only wild bears in the state.
The insurance department says the Glendale Police Department and the California Highway Patrol helped investigate the case, which has been referred to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
