Found Alive WI - Ryan Borgwardt, 45, Green Lake, 11 Aug 2024 *evidence that he faked his death and is alive in Eastern Europe*

[priyaya]

I think there is A LOT of information LE isn't giving out. So many things not making sense but I also believe they are selectively releasing info. I was shocked to hear his wife knew they swiched from missing person to investigation early on and she couldn't say anything to anyone else, even the kids for several weeks.
They have some lead to assume her crossed the Atlantic that they haven't revealed yet.
Also the woman, no real reason to mention her unless that is some kind of lead they want out there. Yet zero clue to her identity.

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 12, 2024

'It was a hoax': Sheriff reveals details on missing Wisconsin kayaker investigation

The Green Lake County Sheriff believes 44-year-old Ryan Borgwardt could be in Eastern Europe after going missing following an August kayak trip.

www.wisn.com

"She's a strong lady. It's all I can say. I asked a lot of her, and one of the things was to keep this quiet," Podoll said. "She's with her kids, and her kids ask her questions, and she's got to put a good front up."

"So whatever we asked of her, she did. And why? Because she wants her husband back," Podoll said.

 

[TDoc72]

NOV 12, 2024

'It was a hoax': Sheriff reveals details on missing Wisconsin kayaker investigation

The Green Lake County Sheriff believes 44-year-old Ryan Borgwardt could be in Eastern Europe after going missing following an August kayak trip.

www.wisn.com

"She's a strong lady. It's all I can say. I asked a lot of her, and one of the things was to keep this quiet," Podoll said. "She's with her kids, and her kids ask her questions, and she's got to put a good front up."

"So whatever we asked of her, she did. And why? Because she wants her husband back," Podoll said.

I get wanting to know what happened or why, but I’d personally tell him to stay there.

 

[truthfinder2019]

While it is really awesome to see that local Law enforcement actually followed through to an investigation -instead of just writing it off as a drowning or walked away. I am curious about how the FBI and Homeland Security got involved in a missing adult person case when it doesn’t appear a particular crime was actually committed

IMO , HS and FBI are involved because it does seem a romance scam….for the moment I keep this idea …for what other reason the family would want the person back if it wasn’t for a fraudulent scam he fell victim of ??

Protect Yourself Against Romance Scams

www.dhs.gov

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/romance-scams

 

[truthfinder2019]

Borgwardt’s wife informed law enforcement her last known contact with Borgwardt came via text message at 10:49 p.m. Aug. 11 when he said he “was turning around and heading to shore soon.”
…
Borgwardt obtained a second passport after he reported the initial one missing. His family easily located the first passport, according to Podoll.

A digital forensic analysis of his laptop revealed the following:

• Communication with a woman from Uzbekistan
• Borgwardt taking out a new $375,000 life insurance policy in January
• Inquiries about transferring funds to foreign bank accounts.
• Changed email addresses lined to financial accounts on the day of his appearance.
• The syncing of the laptop to Borgwardt's iCloud Aug. 11.
• Photos of passports.
• An airline gift card.

Where's Ryan Borgwardt? Authorities believe the Wisconsin father of 3 faked his own death and fled to Europe.

What to know about Ryan Borgwardt, the Wisconsin father of three first reported missing while kayaking and now suspected of faking his own death.

eu.fdlreporter.com

Timeline

Key events in the case of Ryan Borgwardt, Wisconsin man who may have faked his death

Ryan Borgwardt disappeared in August 2024 after going kayaking in Green Lake, WI. An investigation found he may have faked his death & fled to Europe.

eu.fdlreporter.com

“Our investigation has many more steps to take to put this puzzle together,” Podoll added

Wisconsin authorities believe kayaker staged his disappearance and fled to Europe

In a shocking turn of events, Wisconsin authorities believe Ryan Borgwardt, 44, staged his disappearance and fled to Europe.

eu.usatoday.com

 

[adot0902]

IMO , HS and FBI are involved because it does seem a romance scam….for the moment I keep this idea …for what other reason the family would want the person back if it wasn’t for a fraudulent scam he fell victim of ??

Protect Yourself Against Romance Scams

www.dhs.gov

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/romance-scams

It almost has to be a romance scam…. But get the wife her money back and let him live in Uzbekistan and figure it out, I personally don’t care what his situation is you make your bed you get to lie in it.

 

[Deleted member 296739]

NOV 12, 2024

'It was a hoax': Sheriff reveals details on missing Wisconsin kayaker investigation

The Green Lake County Sheriff believes 44-year-old Ryan Borgwardt could be in Eastern Europe after going missing following an August kayak trip.

www.wisn.com

"She's a strong lady. It's all I can say. I asked a lot of her, and one of the things was to keep this quiet," Podoll said. "She's with her kids, and her kids ask her questions, and she's got to put a good front up."

"So whatever we asked of her, she did. And why? Because she wants her husband back," Podoll said.

The other agency involvement makes more sense knowing that they suspected the hoax early on and had been working with the wife and she’s been keeping quiet- how profoundly difficult for her- moo

 

[priyaya]

It almost has to be a romance scam…. But get the wife her money back and let him live in Uzbekistan and figure it out, I personally don’t care what his situation is you make your bed you get to lie in it.

yes I was going to say the transfer of the money, money which the wife and children were entitled to under marriage, was stolen. The fraud makes sense with FBI, and Homeland Security because its overseas (beyond FBI/local LE reach).
But the mentioning of the woman by LE in the presser tells me that romance scheme is the focus

 

[ChatteringBirds]

doesn’t appear a particular crime was actually committed

He was committing insurance fraud, I think.

I have a lot of empathy for his family. Of course they want him safely back.

He is still their father, etc. and this kind of behavior on his part could have different causes.

 

[swanniee11]

He was committing insurance fraud, I think.

I have a lot of empathy for his family. Of course they want him safely back.

He is still their father, etc. and this kind of behavior on his part could have different causes.

Wouldn't it be fraud if someone claimed it? Buying a life insurance policy isn't illegal that I know of.

 

[Joe Friday]

He was committing insurance fraud, I think.

I have a lot of empathy for his family. Of course they want him safely back.

He is still their father, etc. and this kind of behavior on his part could have different causes.

Would only be fraudulent if Borgwardt himself tried collecting on the policy or had conspired with someone to receive the benefits of the policy after faking his death.

The only way the life insurance company would pay on the policy is if there was a death certificate. Without a body it would take years for Bogwardt to be presumed dead and a death certificate issued. Even then the policy would go to who was listed as the beneficiary.

It would be interesting to know who is the beneficiary on the new policy. Is it his wife, kids or someone else? Obviously he didn't list himself as the beneficiary on his own policy.

 

[Inthedetails]

The agency involvement is curious - moo

I am thinking federal agencies are involved because international borders crossed with a fraudulently-obtained US passport ***AND*** U.S. funds likely were transferred to a foreign country under suspicious circumstances.

It's in all of our best interests for the Feds to investigate if foreign actors are scamming our citizens and taking money under false pretenses from our country.

I think he was catfished and I suspect there was no one waiting for him at the airport wherever he was headed. Just a hunch, could be wrong.

jmopinion at the moment

 

[Deleted member 296739]

I am thinking federal agencies are involved because international borders crossed with a fraudulently-obtained US passport ***AND*** U.S. funds likely were transferred to a foreign country under suspicious circumstances.

It's in all of our best interests for the Feds to investigate if foreign actors are scamming our citizens and taking money under false pretenses from our country.

I think he was catfished and I suspect there was no one waiting for him at the airport wherever he was headed. Just a hunch, could be wrong.

jmopinion at the moment

That all makes sense- thanks

 

[Inthedetails]

dbm

 

[Hulk6739]

All of Ryan’s social media all being pro-life yapptology, spewing off at women for having abortions… meanwhile bro pretends to be a dead body in a lake to abandon his kids. Whatever works I guess lmaoooo

 

[Inthedetails]

That all makes sense- thanks

Romance scams committed by foreigners against our citizens, targeted at U.S. currency can be investigated by several Federal agencies:

Dating or Defrauding? Protect Yourself Against Romance Scams With Help From the Government

connect.usa.gov

This isn't just a case of some bored husband skipping out on his family like a jerk. imo

(Using google search requires using the right words. I have also learned today that smuggling catfish is an international crime. Catfish as in real fish. Not the info I was looking for! lol)

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

Regarding romance scams, if that what this case is (which, at the moment, it seems to be):

"The toll on Americans has been staggering. Consumers reported losing more than $10 billion to fraud in 2023, marking a 14% increase over reported losses in 2022, according to a Federal Trade Commission assessment released earlier this year. The brazen theft has taken a financial and emotional toll on millions of Americans. And it has placed new legal and political pressure on American banks, which have struggled to find ways to prevent the fraud, even when they have suspected it."

Inside the "hustle kingdom," where overseas scammers prey on Americans online

Scammers revel in cash as billions slip past U.S. banking safeguards.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[priyaya]

I am thinking federal agencies are involved because international borders crossed with a fraudulently-obtained US passport ***AND*** U.S. funds likely were transferred to a foreign country under suspicious circumstances.

It's in all of our best interests for the Feds to investigate if foreign actors are scamming our citizens and taking money under false pretenses from our country.

I think he was catfished and I suspect there was no one waiting for him at the airport wherever he was headed. Just a hunch, could be wrong.

jmopinion at the moment

so Im reading a lot about crypto currency over there.
often crypto is how funds can be transferred untraced but depends on the country and central Asia seems complicated
wonder if he was able to convert before he left so he could use fund later?

 

[adot0902]

so Im reading a lot about crypto currency over there.
often crypto is how funds can be transferred untraced but depends on the country and central Asia seems complicated
wonder if he was able to convert before he left so he could use fund later?

Yeah, I'm going with absolutely not. IF he would have been smart enough to plan his escape better than an 11 year old maybe, but nope he used his debit card to buy his airline "voucher debit thing" tickets, used his real passport, and couldn't even wipe his computer correctly. He did not have the money or skills, MOO he went to Uzbekistan with $1000 and thought he could live the high life.

 

[Megnut]

He could be in a lot of trouble right now. Or worse. Probably believed this "woman" was being held against her will (Reason #154 catfishes use to delay "meeting", extract money/sympathy) so settled his accounts here and fled there where he'd be a hero, only to get there and be ripe to be a victim to secondary crime.

Why does anyone fall for catfishers? From the mundane, it can be intoxicating -- one literally takes leave of reason -- and the fantasy is just so good, so captivating, so consuming.

Imagine choosing between the love you really have and one that doesn't even exist... I don't have to judge him, feel sorry for him or firgive him; I just recognize too many signs to ignore -- of a citizen who got sucked into a campaign to bilk victims out of their life savings.

I hope LE is able to trace his transactions and track him down before more harm comes to him.

JMO