Four California residents have been charged with insurance fraud after allegedly staging fake bear attacks on luxury vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes, to collect insurance payouts. The suspects, identified as Ruben Tamrazian, 26, Ararat Chirkinian, 39, Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, reportedly fabricated claims about a wild bear causing extensive damage to the interiors of their vehicles.
To support their claims, the suspects even provided video evidence purportedly showing a bear involved in the incidents. However, investigators soon suspected foul play, noting inconsistencies in the video. Their suspicions were confirmed by a biologist, who concluded the “bear” was actually a person in costume. After securing a search warrant, detectives discovered the bear costume at one of the suspects’ residences, adding to the growing list of evidence.
According to officials, the suspects successfully defrauded three separate insurance companies, collecting over $140,000 before the scam was uncovered. The elaborate scheme involved multiple claims submitted across various insurance providers, with each claim alleging substantial damage caused by the “bear.”
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The defendants now face multiple charges, including insurance fraud and conspiracy, for their roles in the plot. Their case highlights the lengths some individuals will go to exploit the system for financial gain, and it underscores the vigilance of insurance fraud investigators in exposing such fraudulent activities.
