LOS ANGELES — A wildly unconventional insurance fraud scheme involving luxury cars and a person in a bear costume has resulted in jail time and over $100,000 in restitution for three Los Angeles residents.
The California Department of Insurance announced the convictions this week following an investigation aptly named “Operation Bear Claw.” The defendants were found guilty of using a person dressed as a bear to “maul” the interiors of high-end vehicles to collect fraudulent insurance payouts.
The “Claw” Marks That Didn’t Add Up
The investigation was sparked by a suspicious claim filed on January 28, 2024. The suspects alleged that a wild bear had broken into a 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost parked in Lake Arrowhead, causing extensive interior damage. To support the claim, they submitted video footage showing a furry figure inside the luxury sedan.
However, the “beast” didn’t pass the eye test. Department detectives, skeptical of the footage, consulted a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. After reviewing the tapes, the expert concluded that the “bear” was “clearly a human in a bear suit.”
Detectives later uncovered two additional fraudulent claims filed for the same date and location involving a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350. A search warrant executed at the suspects’ home eventually turned up the “smoking gun”—the bear costume itself.
Sentencing and Accountability
“Insurance fraud is a serious crime that drives up costs for consumers, and no scheme is too outrageous for us to investigate,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.
Three of the four primary defendants have pleaded no contest:
- Alfiya Zuckerman (39): Sentenced to 180 days in jail (weekend program), two years of probation, and $55,360 in restitution.
- Ruben Tamrazian (26): Sentenced to 180 days in jail (weekend program), two years of probation, and $52,268 in restitution.
- Vahe Muradkhanyan (32): Sentenced to 180 days in jail (weekend program) and two years of probation. His restitution amount is still being determined.
A fourth defendant, Ararat Chirkinian, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in September 2026. A fifth suspect remains outstanding.
A Costly Masquerade
The total loss to the insurance companies involved reached $141,839 before the ruse was exposed. The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case with assistance from the Glendale Police Department and the California Highway Patrol.
While the scheme may seem like a plot from a comedy, authorities say it serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some will go to defraud the system—and the advanced technology and expert analysis now used to catch them.
By the Numbers: Operation Bear Claw
| Detail | Figure |
| Total Fraud Amount | $141,839 |
| Luxury Vehicles Targeted | 3 (Rolls Royce, 2x Mercedes) |
| Restitution Ordered (to date) | $107,628 |
| Jail Time Mandated | 180 Days (each) |
| Lead Agencies | CA Dept of Insurance, CA Fish & Wildlife |
