Four people were arrested on June 28 in Lake Arrowhead, California, for simulating attacks on luxury vehicles while wearing a bear costume. Ruben Tamrazian, 26, Ararat Chirkinian, 39, Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, all residents of Glendale, and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village were arrested on charges of insurance fraud and conspiracy.
The purpose of this deception was get money from insurers, when claiming damages for alleged bear attacks on three high-end cars: a Rolls Royce from 2010 and two Mercedes Benz from 2015 and 2022. The owners of the vehicles requested a total of $141,839 for the damages caused.
The fraud was discovered by the California Department of Insurance, which began an investigation after suspecting that the damage had not been caused by a wild animal, as had initially been claimed, but by a person in disguise
How did you conclude it was a person in disguise?
According to a statement to which the EFE agency had access, the conclusion that the attacks did not come from a real bear was reached with the collaboration of a biologist of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who reviewed the videos from the security cameras.
???????????? $141,000 Bear Costume Fraud in California
The organizers of the fraud claimed that a bear damaged their luxury cars and claimed insurance compensation. After the insurance company doubted the claim for a pic.twitter.com/4BLLpb4G8m
— Sarah Ilych♦️♥️????RIA Novosti (@Sarah83336937) November 17, 2024
The material obtained from the cameras, although of low quality and in black and white, showed a hairy figure moving inside the vehicles. Later, clearer images were presented that revealed visible damage to the cars’ leather upholstery and dashboards. This discovery was crucial to unmasking the hoax.
“The three security cameras showed the same exterior environment and similar damage marks on the seats and door panels of the vehicles. Additionally, inspection of the images revealed inconsistencies in the behavior of the alleged animal,” CBS News revealed.
The Insurance Department presented a photograph of a life-size bear costume as evidencewhich had been used in the deception. The realistic-looking costume featured sharp claws that, according to research, were made using a kitchen utensil specialized for tearing flesh. This detail led the detectives to call the operation “Bear Claw”, in reference to the meticulousness of the fraud.
D.G
* What evidence, aside from the biologist’s analysis, did investigators gather to connect the suspects to the insurance fraud scheme?
## Bearly Believable: Four Arrested in Elaborate Luxury Car Insurance Scam
**Lake Arrowhead, CA** - A bizarre tale of alleged insurance fraud involving a bear costume and luxury vehicles has unfolded in Lake Arrowhead, California. Four individuals have been arrested and charged with conspiracy and insurance fraud after staging supposed bear attacks on three high-end cars.
The suspects, identified as Ruben Tamrazian (26), Ararat Chirkinian (39), Vahe Muradkhanyan (32), all residents of Glendale, and Alfiya Zuckerman (39) of Valley Village, are accused of orchestrating a scheme to defraud insurance companies.
The alleged scheme involved deliberately damaging a 2010 Rolls Royce and two Mercedes Benz vehicles, a 2015 model and a 2022 model, while one of the suspects wore a bear costume. The owners then submitted fraudulent insurance claims totaling $141,839.
**Unmasking the Truth: How the Scam was Uncovered:**
The intricate plot began to unravel thanks to the sharp eyes of investigators at the California Department of Insurance. Suspicious of the nature of the damage and the claims made, the department launched an investigation.
Key to cracking the case was the involvement of a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The biologist reviewed security footage from the alleged bear attacks and determined that the damage was inconsistent with the behavior of a real bear.
This expert analysis, coupled with other evidence gathered by investigators, led to the arrest of the four individuals.
This case highlights the lengths to which some individuals will go to commit insurance fraud. The California Department of Insurance is committed to investigating and prosecuting such schemes to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of the insurance system.
**The following questions remain:**
* What motivated these individuals to stage such an elaborate scam?
* Did they choose luxury vehicles specifically to maximize potential payouts?
* Will the owners of the vehicles face any repercussions for their involvement in the scheme?
The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the case progresses.
