Suspects used bear costume to fake attacks on cars in insurance scam, officials say

LOS ANGELES (CNN) - Four suspects from California are facing charges after officials say they faked bear attacks on their vehicles to get insurance payouts.

California officials arrested four people for insurance fraud after they allegedly filed claims involving a wild bear damaging the interior of three vehicles, including a Rolls Royce and two Mercedes.

For one of the claims, they submitted video as evidence that shows the reported bear – but officials say that bear was actually a person in a costume.

A biologist confirmed the investigators' suspicions, and detectives found the bear costume in the suspects' home after executing a search warrant.

Before getting busted, officials say the suspects defrauded three different insurance companies out of more than $140,000.

The suspects were identified as 26-year-old Ruben Tamrazian, 39-year-old Ararat Chirkinian, 32-year-old Vahe Muradkhanyan and 39-year-old Alfiya Zuckerman. They have all been charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy.