A Russian couple involved in cryptocurrency activities has been tragically kidnapped and murdered while abroad, following an attempted ransom demand.
Roman Novak and his wife Anna were declared missing by their family in early October after failing to establish contact with them. They were seized by individuals who sought payment in exchange for their freedom but resorted to violence when their demands were not met, in the United Arab Emirates. The suspects, who are also Russian nationals, have been apprehended and are set to be extradited to Saint Petersburg.
According to reports from local media on November 7, the couple’s mobile phones were traced for several days following their disappearance in Hatta and Oman, then in Cape Town, South Africa, before the signal ceased on October 4. Anna’s father and stepmother journeyed to Dubai to care for their underage grandchildren once the couple went missing.
Due to the ongoing investigation, Anna’s father refrained from disclosing additional information to the media. Novak, who had a prior conviction for fraud in 2020, received a six-year sentence in a general regime facility.
Before their disappearance, Novak portrayed himself as a prosperous cryptocurrency investor and the creator of Fintopio, a payment platform that purportedly facilitated rapid cryptocurrency transactions.
He allegedly lured investors from various regions, including China and the Middle East, promising collaborations with major tech companies and claiming connections with Arab royalty and Telegram founder Pavel Durov. After reportedly amassing approximately USD 500 million (GBP 381 million) from investors, Novak allegedly absconded, leaving his staff unpaid and investors empty-handed.
In a previous fraud case, the court determined that Novak had deceived partners in projects named “Sport v narod” and “Transcrypt,” embezzling around RUB 7.3 million (£68,500) through payment manipulation and breach of trust.
Some Russian media sources have insinuated potential involvement of defrauded investors in Novak’s demise, though this remains unconfirmed by investigators.
While several suspects have reportedly admitted their involvement, the bodies of the victims have not yet been located. The investigation continues.
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