In January 2024, the California Department of Insurance began an investigation when an insurance company reported suspected fraud. Customers reported an alleged bear attack on their Rolls-Royce parked at Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains. Interior car was seriously damaged, and the evidence in this case was the surveillance video provided by the customers – we read in the department's announcement.
USA. “Bear attacks”? Four people were detained for attempted extortion
Investigators analyzed the video and became suspicious. They noticed the destruction car it was not done by a bear, but by a man dressed as a brown bear. This was followed by two similar insurance claims from two different companies.
The next two casesattack “bear” were to take place in the same place and time. The animal was to destroy the interiors Mercedes G63 AMG and Mercedes E350. Also in these cases, customers shared the video, and investigators determined that the damage was caused by a man dressed as a bear.
A biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife also analyzed the recordings. He confirmed that all three cars were destroyed by a masquerader. Investigators searched the apartments of four people – 26-year-old Ruben Tamrazian, 39-year-old Ararat Chrikinian, 32-year-old Vahe Muradkhabyan and 39-year-old Alfiya Zuckerman. A bear costume was found in one of the apartments. The men were arrested for attempted extortion.
USA. Insurance companies lost almost PLN 142,000. dollars
Insurance companies that received reports of alleged bear attacks lost a total of 141,839 dollars (approx. PLN 581 thousand). The case is being handled by the San Bernardino prosecutor's office.