Four California residents allegedly used a bear costume to defraud insurance companies out tens of thousands of dollars, according to the state’s Department of Insurance (CDI) Thursday, Nov. 14. Investigators said they discovered the scheme by analyzing video evidence sent the insurance company by the suspects.
The suspects claimed on Jan. 28 a bear entered their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost in Lake Arrowhead and caused interior damage. To help their case, they provided the video, but the insurance company had its doubts and suspected fraud.
CDI launched Operation Bear Claw. Detectives looked into the case and determined it was all part of a bear costume insurance fraud scheme.
The department discovered two additional insurance claims to two other insurance companies by the same suspects on the same day. Those supposed bear break-ins involved a 2015 and 2022 Mercedes and video was provided of those incidents as well.
To make sure they were on the right track, detectives enlisted the help of a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to review the three bear videos. The biologist concluded the culprit was not an actual bear but a human in a bear costume.
Detectives executed a search warrant in the suspects’ home and located a bear costume.
The four suspects were identified as Ruben Tamrazian, 26, of Glendale, Ararat Chirkinian, 39, of Glendale, Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, of Glendale and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village. In all, officials said they defrauded the insurance companies of $141,839.
All four suspects are charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy.
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