Insurance Fraud Uncovered: Man in Bear Costume Dupes Insurance Companies
Glendale, CA – Authorities have arrested four Los Angeles residents for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated insurance fraud scheme that involved a man dressed as a bear damaging luxury vehicles. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) believes the suspects fabricated at least three separate incidents where they claimed bears had attacked expensive cars, resulting in over $141,000 in fraudulent claims.
The suspects, identified as Ruben Tamrazian, 26; Ararat Chirkinian, 39; Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, all from Glendale; and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village, have been charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy. The investigation began after an insurance company flagged a suspicious claim in January, which led to subsequent investigations. The alleged scheme involved the staged “bear attacks” taking place in Lake Arrowhead.
Insurance investigators were initially presented with video footage of the alleged incidents. In the first case, the owners of a 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost reported extensive interior damage, attributing it to a bear. However, a closer examination of the videos revealed the culprit was not an actual bear, but rather a person in a costume. A biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed the finding, stating the animal in the footage was “clearly a human in a bear suit.”
The investigation broadened to include two additional fraudulent claims involving a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350, both occurring around the same time and location. Each claim included videos depicting the same alleged bear damage. Authorities executed a search warrant at a suspect’s home, where they discovered the bear costume and claw-like instruments believed to have been used to damage the vehicles.
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office is currently evaluating the evidence to determine whether to file criminal charges related to the fraudulent claims. The CDI is continuing its investigation into the case.
