Four Charged in California Insurance Fraud Scheme

Four Los Angeles residents were arrested for insurance fraud after claiming a bear damaged luxury cars, but investigations revealed it was a person in a bear costume. The fraudulent scheme involved three insurance claims filed for a 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost, a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG, and a 2022 Mercedes E350, with fabricated video evidence of bear attacks. The California Department of Insurance's investigation, dubbed Operation Bear Claw, confirmed the deception through video analysis by a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Detectives found the bear costume and meat claws used in the fraud at the suspects' residence. Ultimately, the suspects defrauded insurance companies of over $141,000. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office is handling the prosecution of the case.