This week, four people from the Los Angeles area were arrested after an investigation by the California Department of Insurance. The suspects are accused of creating a plan where they used a life-sized bear costume to pretend that their cars were attacked. Their goal was to get a large insurance payout. The individuals involved are Ruben Tamrazian, 26; Ararat Chirkinian, 39; Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32; and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39. They now face charges for insurance fraud and conspiracy, and their actions reportedly cost three insurance companies a total of $141,839.

The investigation, called “Operation Bear Claw,” started earlier this year when one of the insurance claims seemed suspicious. In January, the suspects claimed that a bear had entered their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost while it was parked in Lake Arrowhead, an area known for having black bears. They even provided video evidence showing a furry figure entering the car and damaging the inside. However, investigators later found out that the “bear” was actually a person in a bear costume.

As investigators looked deeper, they found two more claims from the same suspects involving different cars—a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350. The way these claims were made was very similar to the first one, which made authorities doubt their truthfulness. To confirm their suspicions, investigators brought in a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The biologist concluded that the videos showed a human in a bear suit, not a real bear.

To get to the bottom of the situation, detectives searched the suspects’ home and found the bear costume, which included a furry head, paws, and metal tools that looked like claws. The light brown color of the costume raised more questions because California’s only wild bears are black bears, which usually aren’t brown or tan. This difference added to the evidence against the suspects, suggesting that their claims were made up. The investigation has involved teamwork with the Glendale Police Department and the California Highway Patrol, and the case is now with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office to decide on the next steps.

Original news source: They told insurers a bear damaged their car. But it was actually a person in a costume (NPR)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group takes turns performing actions or scenarios based on key elements from the article (e.g., “pretending to be a bear,” “filing an insurance claim,” “investigating a crime”). The other groups must guess what they are acting out. This helps students recall the article while practicing their speaking and listening skills.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Prepare a few questions related to the article, such as “Do you think insurance fraud is a serious crime?” or “What would you do if you witnessed someone committing fraud?” Students will move around the classroom asking their classmates these questions and recording their answers. Afterward, they can share the most interesting responses in small groups.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On the board, draw a large circle and write “Operation Bear Claw” in it. Ask students to contribute words or phrases related to the article, such as “insurance fraud,” “costume,” “investigation,” and “suspects.” Write these around the central idea to create a mind map. This visual activity helps students organize their thoughts and vocabulary related to the article’s content.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Split students into pairs and ask them to create a catchy headline for the article. They can brainstorm different options and then vote on the best headline as a class. This activity encourages creativity and helps students practice summarizing the main idea of the article in a concise manner.

– SPEED SUMMARIZING
Instructions: Set a timer for two minutes. In pairs, one student summarizes the article while the other listens. After one minute, they switch roles. After the activity, ask students to share any new vocabulary or phrases they used during their summaries. This activity reinforces comprehension and speaking skills under time constraints.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the main reason the four suspects were arrested by the California Department of Insurance?

2. How did the suspects attempt to make their insurance claims seem believable?

3. What was the name of the investigation that uncovered the suspects’ scheme?

4. What evidence did the suspects provide to support their claim about the bear attack on their car?

5. How did investigators confirm that the “bear” in the videos was not a real bear?

6. What unusual items did detectives find in the suspects’ home that raised suspicion about their claims?

7. Why did the color of the bear costume raise questions during the investigation?

8. Which organizations collaborated with the California Department of Insurance during the investigation?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

This week, four people from the Los Angeles area were arrested after an investigation by the California Department of Insurance. The suspects are accused of creating a plan where they used a life-sized bear costume to pretend that their cars were attacked. Their goal was to get a large (1)______ payout. The individuals involved are Ruben Tamrazian, 26; (2)______ Chirkinian, 39; Vahe (3)______, 32; and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39. They now face charges for insurance fraud and (4)______, and their actions reportedly cost three insurance companies a total of $141,839.

The investigation, called “Operation Bear Claw,” started earlier this year when one of the insurance (5)______ seemed suspicious. In January, the suspects claimed that a bear had entered their 2010 Rolls (6)______ Ghost while it was parked in Lake Arrowhead, an area known for (7)______ black bears. They even provided video evidence showing a furry (8)______ entering the car and damaging the inside. However, investigators later found out that the “bear” was actually a person in a bear costume.

As investigators looked deeper, they (9)______ two more claims from the same suspects involving (10)______ cars—a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350. The way these claims were made was very similar to the first one, which made authorities doubt their truthfulness. To confirm their suspicions, investigators brought in a biologist from the California (11)______ of Fish and Wildlife. The biologist concluded that the videos showed a human in a bear suit, not a real bear.

To get to the (12)______ of the situation, detectives searched the suspects’ home and found the bear costume, which included a furry head, paws, and metal tools that (13)______ like (14)______. The light brown color of the costume raised more questions because (15)______’s only wild bears are black bears, which usually aren’t brown or tan. This difference added to the evidence against the suspects, suggesting that their claims were made up. The investigation has involved (16)______ with the Glendale Police Department and the California Highway Patrol, and the case is now with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office to decide on the next steps.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on people committing insurance fraud? Why do you think some people do it?
2. How would you feel if you were a detective working on a case like this?
3. Do you think it’s ever okay to lie to get money? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever heard of a similar story where someone tried to trick an insurance company? What happened?
5. What is a bear costume used for, in your opinion? Do you think it could be used for fun or for something serious?
6. How would you react if you saw a bear in real life? Would you be scared or excited?
7. Do you think the suspects in this story will learn from their mistakes? Why or why not?
8. What is your opinion on how insurance companies investigate claims? Do you think they do a good job?
9. How would you feel if you were one of the insurance companies involved and lost money because of fraud?
10. Do you think people are more likely to commit fraud in tough financial times? Why?
11. What is a funny or creative way you can think of that someone could use a costume?
12. How would you feel if you were a neighbor of the suspects and found out about their actions?
13. Do you think the punishment for insurance fraud should be strict? Why or why not?
14. What is a lesson you think people can learn from this story?
15. How would you feel if you were the person who made the video that exposed the fraud? Would you be proud or worried? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. investigation
2. suspects
3. conspiracy
4. fraud
5. suspicious
6. biologist
7. evidence
8. authorities
9. truthfulness
10. detectives
11. costume
12. claims
13. concluded
14. teamwork
15. district

Meanings:
(A) Statements that something is true, often needing proof
(B) A secret plan by a group to do something illegal or harmful
(C) Deceiving someone to get something valuable
(D) A specific area or region, often used in legal or governmental contexts
(E) Working together as a group to achieve a goal
(F) Information or facts that help prove something is true or false
(G) An outfit worn to look like someone or something else
(H) Being honest and telling the truth
(I) A scientist who studies living things, especially plants and animals
(J) Causing doubt or mistrust
(K) People who are thought to have done something wrong
(L) People or organizations in power who enforce laws and rules
(M) A careful search or study to find out the truth about something
(N) People who investigate crimes and gather information
(O) Decided or came to a conclusion after thinking about something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the main accusation against the four suspects from Los Angeles?
(a) Theft
(b) Insurance fraud
(c) Vandalism
(d) Identity theft

2. What did the suspects use to pretend that their cars were attacked?
(a) A life-sized bear costume
(b) A fake bear statue
(c) A stuffed animal
(d) A cardboard cutout

3. How much money did the suspects reportedly cost the insurance companies?
(a) $141,839
(b) $50,000
(c) $200,000
(d) $75,000

4. What was the name of the investigation into the suspects’ activities?
(a) Operation Furry Fraud
(b) Operation Costume Crime
(c) Operation Bear Claw
(d) Operation Animal Attack

5. Which car did the suspects claim was attacked by a bear in January?
(a) 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG
(b) 2022 Mercedes E350
(c) 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost
(d) 2018 BMW X5

6. What did the biologist conclude about the videos provided by the suspects?
(a) They showed a real bear
(b) They showed a human in a bear suit
(c) They were edited
(d) They were taken in a different location

7. What did detectives find in the suspects’ home that raised suspicions?
(a) Fake insurance documents
(b) A video camera
(c) A real bear
(d) A bear costume

8. Which department collaborated with the California Department of Insurance in this investigation?
(a) Los Angeles Fire Department
(b) California Highway Patrol
(c) San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office
(d) Glendale Police Department

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. A biologist confirmed that the videos showed a human in a bear suit, not a real bear.
2. The suspects claimed a bear damaged their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost while it was parked.
3. The investigation was called “Operation Bear Paw.”
4. The suspects used a bear costume to fake car attacks and claim insurance money.
5. Investigators discovered that the bear in the video was actually a real bear.
6. The suspects also made similar false claims about a 2015 Mercedes and a 2022 Mercedes.
7. Four people from Los Angeles were released for insurance fraud this week.
8. The total amount gained by the insurance companies due to the suspects’ actions was $141,839.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What were the suspects accused of doing to get money from insurance companies?
2. How did the investigators find out that the bear in the video was not real?
3. What evidence did detectives find in the suspects’ home that helped the investigation?
4. Why was the color of the bear costume important to the case?
5. What is the next step for the case after the investigation is complete?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was the main reason the four suspects were arrested by the California Department of Insurance?
The suspects were arrested for creating a plan to commit insurance fraud by pretending that their cars were attacked by a bear.

2. How did the suspects attempt to make their insurance claims seem believable?
They claimed that a bear entered their car and provided video evidence showing a furry figure entering and damaging the inside of the vehicle.

3. What was the name of the investigation that uncovered the suspects’ scheme?
The investigation was called “Operation Bear Claw.”

4. What evidence did the suspects provide to support their claim about the bear attack on their car?
They provided video footage that showed what they claimed was a bear entering their car and causing damage.

5. How did investigators confirm that the “bear” in the videos was not a real bear?
Investigators brought in a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who concluded that the videos showed a human in a bear suit, not a real bear.

6. What unusual items did detectives find in the suspects’ home that raised suspicion about their claims?
Detectives found a bear costume that included a furry head, paws, and metal tools that looked like claws.

7. Why did the color of the bear costume raise questions during the investigation?
The bear costume was light brown, while California’s wild bears are black, which made it suspicious and suggested that the claims were made up.

8. Which organizations collaborated with the California Department of Insurance during the investigation?
The Glendale Police Department and the California Highway Patrol collaborated with the California Department of Insurance during the investigation.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) insurance
(2) Ararat
(3) Muradkhanyan
(4) conspiracy
(5) claims
(6) Royce
(7) having
(8) figure
(9) found
(10) different
(11) Department
(12) bottom
(13) looked
(14) claws
(15) California
(16) teamwork
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. investigation
Answer: (M) A careful search or study to find out the truth about something

2. suspects
Answer: (K) People who are thought to have done something wrong

3. conspiracy
Answer: (B) A secret plan by a group to do something illegal or harmful

4. fraud
Answer: (C) Deceiving someone to get something valuable

5. suspicious
Answer: (J) Causing doubt or mistrust

6. biologist
Answer: (I) A scientist who studies living things, especially plants and animals

7. evidence
Answer: (F) Information or facts that help prove something is true or false

8. authorities
Answer: (L) People or organizations in power who enforce laws and rules

9. truthfulness
Answer: (H) Being honest and telling the truth

10. detectives
Answer: (N) People who investigate crimes and gather information

11. costume
Answer: (G) An outfit worn to look like someone or something else

12. claims
Answer: (A) Statements that something is true, often needing proof

13. concluded
Answer: (O) Decided or came to a conclusion after thinking about something

14. teamwork
Answer: (E) Working together as a group to achieve a goal

15. district
Answer: (D) A specific area or region, often used in legal or governmental contexts
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the main accusation against the four suspects from Los Angeles?
Answer: (b) Insurance fraud

2. What did the suspects use to pretend that their cars were attacked?
Answer: (a) A life-sized bear costume

3. How much money did the suspects reportedly cost the insurance companies?
Answer: (a) $141,839

4. What was the name of the investigation into the suspects’ activities?
Answer: (c) Operation Bear Claw

5. Which car did the suspects claim was attacked by a bear in January?
Answer: (c) 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost

6. What did the biologist conclude about the videos provided by the suspects?
Answer: (b) They showed a human in a bear suit

7. What did detectives find in the suspects’ home that raised suspicions?
Answer: (d) A bear costume

8. Which department collaborated with the California Department of Insurance in this investigation?
Answer: (d) Glendale Police Department
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. A biologist confirmed that the videos showed a human in a bear suit, not a real bear. (Answer: True)
2. The suspects claimed a bear damaged their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost while it was parked. (Answer: True)
3. The investigation was called “Operation Bear Paw.” (Answer: False)
4. The suspects used a bear costume to fake car attacks and claim insurance money. (Answer: True)
5. Investigators discovered that the bear in the video was actually a real bear. (Answer: False)
6. The suspects also made similar false claims about a 2015 Mercedes and a 2022 Mercedes. (Answer: True)
7. Four people from Los Angeles were released for insurance fraud this week. (Answer: False)
8. The total amount gained by the insurance companies due to the suspects’ actions was $141,839. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧