Californians Sentenced for Staged Bear Attacks on Luxury Cars

The defendants collected over $141,000 in fraudulent insurance payouts.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 11:03pm

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An extreme close-up of a metal meat-shredding utensil, its sharp tines and textured surface dramatically lit against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the tools used in the insurance fraud scheme.The tools of an elaborate insurance fraud scheme: kitchen utensils used to stage 'bear attacks' on luxury vehicles.Los Angeles Today

Three Southern California residents were sentenced to jail for masterminding a scheme in which they staged fake bear attacks on their luxury cars, then filed claims to defraud three different insurance companies of over $141,000 in payouts. The defendants used a person in a bear suit and claw-like kitchen utensils to damage the vehicles before submitting fraudulent claims.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of insurance fraud, which costs consumers billions each year through higher premiums. It also showcases the creative lengths some perpetrators will go to in order to commit these crimes, raising concerns about the need for stronger fraud detection and prevention measures.

The details

Ruben Tamrazian, Vahe Muradkhanyan, and Alfiya Zuckerman pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud charges. Tamrazian and Muradkhanyan were sentenced to 180 days in jail and ordered to pay over $50,000 each in restitution, while Zuckerman received the same jail sentence with the restitution amount still to be determined. A fourth defendant, Ararat Chirkinian, has a preliminary hearing scheduled for September.

  • On January 28, 2024, the defendants claimed a bear damaged their 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost in Lake Arrowhead, California.
  • The defendants also filed fraudulent claims about bear attacks on two Mercedes-Benzes on the same date and location.
  • The defendants were arrested in November 2024 after an investigation by the California Department of Insurance.

The players

Ruben Tamrazian

A 26-year-old Glendale, California resident who was sentenced to 180 days in jail and ordered to pay over $50,000 in restitution for his role in the insurance fraud scheme.

Vahe Muradkhanyan

A 32-year-old Glendale, California resident who was sentenced to 180 days in jail and ordered to pay over $50,000 in restitution for his role in the insurance fraud scheme.

Alfiya Zuckerman

A 39-year-old Valley Village, Los Angeles resident who was sentenced to 180 days in jail for her role in the insurance fraud scheme, with the restitution amount yet to be determined.

Ararat Chirkinian

A 39-year-old Glendale, California resident who has a preliminary court hearing scheduled for September in relation to the insurance fraud case.

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What’s next

The judge will determine the restitution amount for defendant Alfiya Zuckerman at a future hearing.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the creative and elaborate lengths that some perpetrators will go to in order to commit insurance fraud, underscoring the need for stronger fraud detection and prevention measures to protect consumers from these costly crimes.