California Car Insurance Scam Unmasked: Bear Costume Fraud Exposed
TL;DR
Four Los Angeles residents were arrested for allegedly staging fake bear attacks on their vehicles using a bear costume to claim insurance payouts totaling $141,839. The California Department of Insurance, with help from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, determined the supposed bear in the video evidence was a person in a costume. The suspects face charges of insurance fraud and conspiracy, with the case under review by the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office.
- They told insurers a bear damaged their car. But it was actually a person in a costume NPR
- 4 arrested in California car insurance scam: 'Clearly a human in a bear suit' Yahoo! Voices
- Bear that damaged luxury cars was actually a person in a costume, insurers say The Associated Press
- Bear costume used in elaborate car insurance fraud scheme ABC News
- They said a bear attacked their Rolls Royce. But the real culprit was even stranger Los Angeles Times
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