Bear‑suit scammers in LA County convicted in insurance fraud scheme

Three Los Angeles County residents have been sentenced for a staged insurance fraud scheme involving a person dressed in a bear costume damaging luxury cars.

The group pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud after submitting fake claims involving high-end vehicles like Rolls-Royces and Mercedes models.

Investigators say they used video footage of the “bear” inside the cars to support claims totaling about $141,839.

Authorities later confirmed the footage showed a human in a bear suit, and a costume was recovered during a search, CBS News has reported.

The defendants received jail sentences served through a weekend program, probation, and restitution payments, while a fourth suspect still faces court proceedings.