LOS ANGELES (WKRC) — Three people were convicted of insurance fraud after they claimed a bear damaged their cars, only for surveillance cameras to reveal that the destruction was caused by a suspect wearing a bear costume.

According to a news release from the California Department of Insurance, the suspects were convicted of insurance fraud after taking part in a 2024 scheme involving "a bear costume, luxury vehicles, and falsified damage claims."

“What may have looked unbelievable turned out to be exactly that -- and now those responsible are being held accountable,” Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said i the release. "My Department’s investigators uncovered the facts, exposed this scam, and helped bring these defendants to justice. Insurance fraud is a serious crime that drives up costs for consumers, and no scheme is too outrageous for us to investigate.”

Investigators said they first began looking into the claim when an insurance company contacted the state department after receiving a suspicious claim regarding an incident that took place in the Lake Arrowhead area on Jan. 28, 2024.

"The suspects claimed a bear entered their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost and caused interior damage, submitting video footage to support the claim," the release read. "Upon further review, Department detectives determined the 'bear' in the video was a person wearing a bear costume. Investigators later uncovered two additional fraudulent claims submitted to separate insurance companies involving the same date and location, this time tied to a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350."

A biologist reviewed the surveillance video presented by the suspects and "concluded the animal shown was clearly a human in a bear suit." The bear costume was reportedly found in a residence belonging to one of the suspects.

Four people were arrested in connection to the insurance fraud scheme in 2024, but only three of the four were convicted as of the Department of Insurance's release.