Bear-Suit Attacks on Luxury Cars for Insurance Payouts Lead to Convictions

LOS ANGELES — A bizarre insurance fraud scheme involving a bear costume, luxury vehicles, and falsified damage claims has now ended in convictions for three Los Angeles area residents following a California Department of Insurance investigation dubbed “Operation Bear Claw.” 

The defendants used a person in a bear suit to stage fake attacks on high-end vehicles, then submitted fraudulent claims seeking payouts from insurance companies.

Read the entire press release. California Department of Insurance, April 16, 2026

NICB assisted the investigation.