Fake Bear Attack Insurance Scam Leads to Arrests in California

In a bizarre case of attempted insurance fraud, four individuals from Southern California were arrested after allegedly staging bear attacks on luxury vehicles in Lake Arrowhead using a bear costume. According to the California Department of Insurance, the suspects claimed a bear entered and damaged a 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost and two Mercedes vehicles. They supported their claims with video footage meant to depict bear damage. However, investigators quickly found the "bear" was a person in a costume, equipped with metal tools to mimic claw marks, raising suspicions about the legitimacy of the claims.

The unusual scam aimed to claim a total of $141,839 in damages, and investigators consulted a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who confirmed the footage showed a human in a costume. The bear suit, complete with fur, a bear-shaped head, and claws, was later seized from the suspects’ home. Authorities identified the individuals as Ruben Tamrazian, Ararat Chirkinian, Vahe Muradkhanyan, and Alfiya Zuckerman, all of whom now face charges of insurance fraud and conspiracy.

While black bears are native to the San Bernardino Mountains, officials were quick to clarify that California’s wild bears do not resemble the costume used in the fraudulent videos. This unusual case highlights the creativity, yet risk, associated with staged claims in the insurance industry, where thorough investigations often reveal surprising levels of fraud.