Four individuals in Southern California were arrested and charged with insurance fraud after they falsely claimed that a bear had entered and damaged their cars while parked at Lake Arrowhead. The alleged bear was later revealed to be a person wearing a bear costume in videos submitted to the insurance company. The suspects submitted claims for damage to a 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost, a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG, and a 2022 Mercedes E350, amounting to $141,839 in fraudulent insurance claims.
The individuals arrested for insurance fraud and conspiracy were identified as Ruben Tamrazian, Ararat Chirkinian, Vahe Muradkhanyan, and Alfiya Zuckerman. The cases against them are under review by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. A bear costume was found in their home, along with video evidence showing minor groove marks on the cars’ interiors that were meant to resemble claw marks.
Despite the presence of black bears in the San Bernardino Mountains, there has never been a report of a bear wearing a costume. Grizzly bears, which used to inhabit California, were hunted to extinction by the 1920s. A biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that the alleged bear in the videos was indeed a person in a costume.
The fraudulent scheme was uncovered through further investigation, leading to the arrests of the four individuals involved. It is unclear if they have legal representation at this time. The case highlights the importance of thorough investigation and scrutiny in combating insurance fraud.
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