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Bear Suit Scam: Trio Sentenced for Car Fraud
19 Apr
Summary
- Three individuals staged fake bear attacks on luxury cars.
- They filed fraudulent insurance claims for $142,000 in damages.
- A biologist confirmed the 'bear' was a human in a costume.
Three individuals have been sentenced for orchestrating an insurance fraud scheme involving fake bear attacks on high-end vehicles. Alfiya Zuckerman, Ruben Tamrazian, and Vahe Muradkhanyan staged incidents where they claimed a bear had damaged a Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes cars.
The trio submitted insurance claims seeking a total of $142,000 to cover the alleged damages. Their claims were supported by videos showing the vehicles parked in the San Bernardino Mountains, with visible scratches on the seats and doors.
A biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reviewed the footage and concluded that the "bear" was actually a person wearing a costume. Detectives subsequently discovered a bear costume at one of the residences, leading to the arrests.
Zuckerman, Tamrazian, and Muradkhanyan pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud. They were each sentenced to 180 days in jail, with Zuckerman ordered to pay over $55,000 in restitution and Tamrazian over $52,000. A restitution amount for Muradkhanyan is still pending.
A fourth individual allegedly involved in the scheme is scheduled to appear in court in September. The California Department of Insurance dubbed its investigation "Operation Bear Claw."
