Luxury Cars Targeted in Bizarre Bear Attack Fraud Scheme Arrests

Files labeled "Investigations" and "Fraud" in folder.

California authorities have arrested four individuals for an audacious scheme involving staged bear attacks on luxury vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce Ghost.

At a Glance

  • Four individuals in California were arrested for alleged insurance fraud using bear costumes.
  • The fraudulent claims involved staged damage to luxury cars, including a Rolls-Royce.
  • Investigations revealed the “bears” in the footage were humans in costumes.
  • The suspects face charges of conspiracy and insurance fraud.

Overview of the Fraudulent Scheme

In an elaborate scheme, four California residents were apprehended for allegedly trying to defraud insurance companies by staging bear attacks on their luxury cars. The primary target of these supposedly staged incidents was a Rolls-Royce Ghost. Suspicion arose when investigators noted the video and photo evidence showing a bear inside one of the vehicles appeared to be fabricated. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed the footage depicted a human in a bear costume, not an actual bear.

The individuals involved have been identified as Ruben Tamrazian, Ararat Chirkinian, Vahe Muradkhanyan, and Alfiya Zuckerman. These suspects face serious legal consequences, as they have been charged with both conspiracy and insurance fraud. The suspected fraudulent claims reportedly amounted to a staggering $141,839. Investigations revealed similar claims involving other luxury vehicles, including a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350.

How the Scheme Unraveled

Detectives began their investigation after insurance companies flagged the suspicious claims for review. A California biologist, commissioned to provide expert testimony, verified that the “bear” depicted in the footage was unequivocally a person in a bear suit. This discovery further fueled the investigation into the fraudulent claims. In the subsequent search of the suspects’ residence, law enforcement officers recovered the full bear costume, corroborating the staged incident scenario.

The attempt to exploit the natural behavior of California’s black bears, which occasionally seek food in vehicles and cause legitimate damage, was calculated to lend authenticity to the claims. The suspects strategically selected Lake Arrowhead as their preferred location for faking these bear attacks, possibly due to the area’s reputation for wildlife interactions.

Conclusion and Legal Implications

Charges have been officially filed against the four suspects, encapsulating conspiracy and insurance fraud. The unraveling of this case underscores the importance of vigilance and thorough investigation by insurance entities. Efforts to defraud insurance companies have grown increasingly inventive and audacious, as evidenced by this scheme.

“To further ensure it was not actually a bear in the video, the Department had a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife review the three alleged bear videos and they also opined it was clearly a human in a bear suit” – California Department of Insurance

This incident serves as a stark reminder that fraudulent activities not only carry severe penalties but also impact the costs and procedures of insurance for honest citizens. The case will proceed to court, where the full extent of legal consequences for the suspects will be determined.

Sources:

  1. Insurance fraudsters dressed as bears to wreck cars: US agency
  2. Insurance fraudsters dressed as bears to wreck cars: US agency

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