[Guns N' Coffee]

https://apnews.com/article/bear-cost...0e2eb0428d5283

Three people in California have been sentenced for insurance fraud in a bizarre scam that involved someone dressed in a bear costume damaging luxury cars.

The California Insurance Department said the three used a person in a bear suit to stage fake attacks inside a Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes in 2024, then submitted fraudulent claims seeking nearly $142,000 in payouts from insurance companies. The department called it “Operation Bear Claw.”

Two Los Angeles-area men and a woman pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud and were sentenced to a weekend jail program, followed by probation, the department said in a news release Thursday. Two off them were ordered to pay over $50,000 in restitution.

A fourth person faces a court hearing in September.

The group is accused of providing several videos from the San Bernardino Mountains of a bear moving inside the vehicles to the insurance companies as part of their damage claims, the department said. Photos provided by the insurance department show what appeared to be scratches on the seats and doors.

A California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist reviewed the footage and concluded it was “clearly a human in a bear suit,” the insurance department said.

After executing a search warrant, detectives found the bear costume in the suspects’ home, the department said.

Bears breaking into homes or trash cans in search of food have become a problem in California from Lake Tahoe in the Sierra down to the foothill suburbs of Los Angeles, where some have been known to raid refrigerators and take dips in backyard pools and hot tubs.

[pokerplay]

bearly a story

[Spiffyfable]

Go back in time 2 or 3 hundred years and explain to a wise man how people in the future will plot ways at making money ...

Now I'm wondering what levels people will stoop to a couple hundred years in the future. I bet it will be among the Holiest of Shits

[kellyhound]

Originally Posted by Guns N' Coffee ↗

The group is accused of providing several videos from the San Bernardino Mountains of a bear moving inside the vehicles to the insurance companies as part of their damage claims, the department said.

Sentencing outcomes include:

Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village, pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud (injuring or destroying insured property). She was sentenced to 180 days in jail (to be served through a weekend jail program), two years of supervised probation, and ordered to pay $55,360 in restitution.

Ruben Tamrazian, 26, of Glendale, pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud (injuring or destroying insured property). He was sentenced to 180 days in jail (weekend jail program), two years of supervised probation, and ordered to pay $52,268 in restitution.

Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, of Glendale, pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud (presenting a false insurance claim). He was sentenced to 180 days in jail (weekend jail program), two years of supervised probation, with restitution to be determined.

Ararat Chirkinian, 39, of Glendale, is scheduled to return to court September 2026 for a preliminary hearing.

[Mr.NoCredit]

I’m lost in understanding how this scam worked. Obviously these folks don’t own Rolls Royce or Bentley’s so how is it they were going to be paid by insurance for damaged cars they don’t own? Or do they own them!?!

[Guns N' Coffee]

Originally Posted by Mr.NoCredit ↗

I’m lost in understanding how this scam worked. Obviously these folks don’t own Rolls Royce or Bentley’s so how is it they were going to be paid by insurance for damaged cars they don’t own? Or do they own them!?!

They were the car owners and the guy in the bear suit did a really low effort bear impersonation (and real bears are more destructive).

[Mr.NoCredit]

Originally Posted by Guns N' Coffee ↗

They were the car owners and the guy in the bear suit did a really low effort bear impersonation (and real bears are more destructive).

How stupid can you be!?! They owned those kinds of high end vehicles and need to resort to insurance fraud!?!

[Pyramid_Head]

If you're looking to commit fraud, maybe just maybe owing a Rolls-Royce is living a bit beyond your means. These people are fucking morons.