Officials from the California Department of Wildlife Protection reviewed video recordings and reported that the footage "clearly shows a person dressed in a bear costume," according to a statement from the insurance agency. After a thorough analysis of the recordings, detectives determined that the individual in the video was a person, and not a real bear in a bear costume.
Four Los Angeles residents were arrested on November 13 on suspicion of being involved in insurance fraud and conspiracy after they falsely claimed that a bear had collided with their vehicle and caused them damage. However, it became known that neither the bear nor its tracks had been found — there was a person in a bear costume on the video.
A case involving the "invading bear" in a luxurious Rolls Royce Ghost in the town of Arohid in January raised suspicions from the insurance company, and an investigation began. The provided video from the insurance company showed damage, claimed by the owners, including claw marks and scratches on the interior doors and seats of the vehicle.
The fraud allegedly cost the insurance company more than $140,000. After filing the claim for reimbursement, investigators discovered a bear costume under the suspect’s bed. From the investigation, it also became known of two other fraud requests for insurance from the same suspects, submitted to different insurance companies, with the same date, location of the fraud, and circumstances concerning the bear, but already for other vehicles - a Mercedes G63 AMG and a Mercedes E350.
Alison Hensley, the press secretary at the Department of Insurance, noted: "This case of fraud appears to be genuinely unique; however, during our work we have seen that people are ready to commit many things to receive an unearned insurance payout."