Russian crypto scammer couple tragically die in the UAE! They were kidnapped and dismembered after being deceived into attending an investment conference. Their flamboyant display of wealth led to their deadly fate.

Russian cryptocurrency scammer Roman Novak and his wife went to a rented villa in the Hatta mountain area of the UAE in early October, claiming they would attend a cryptocurrency investment conference. Unexpectedly, both of them lost their lives. What happened? (Background: Bitcoin users “are kidnapped every week,” experts warn that KYC leaks from centralized exchanges are the main cause) (Additional context: six cases of crypto-related kidnapping, extortion, murder, and serial incidents) Russian crypto scammer Roman Novak and his wife Anna Novak mysteriously disappeared in early October in the UAE, later confirmed to have been kidnapped and murdered. Investigations show that this former scammer and his wife both died because they were lured to Hatta in the UAE to attend a crypto investment conference, where they were kidnapped for ransom and ultimately killed. Currently, the Russian Investigative Committee has opened a case and is cooperating with UAE authorities; multiple suspects have been arrested. Disappearance details: Vanished mysteriously en route to “investment conference” On October 2, the Novak couple left Dubai heading to a rented villa in Hatta, claiming they would attend a crypto investment conference. After the driver dropped them off at a lakeside parking lot, they transferred to another vehicle and left, with no further contact. According to CryptoSlate, the kidnappers disguised themselves as potential investors with the goal of kidnapping the Novaks for ransom or forcing them to give up their crypto wallet private keys. However, the suspects mistakenly believed the wallet contained billions of dollars in assets, which Novak had already spent. Days after the disappearance, the couple’s phone signals appeared at Hatta, the Oman border, and Cape Town, South Africa, but disappeared completely after October 4. Scene of the body disposal: Bloodstains, knives, and surveillance footage reveal the truth Police identified suspects using surveillance footage, showing them driving Range Rover and Ford vehicles to transport the Novak couple’s bodies. After the failed kidnapping attempt, the kidnappers murdered and dismembered the couple, placing the body parts into black plastic bags and discarding them in trash bins at Hatta Mall and in the Fujairah desert. Additionally, police found bloodstains in the rented villa, blood on the rented vehicle, a hidden knife, and a T-shirt left behind by the suspects. Suspect backgrounds: Former police officers and Russian soldiers involved According to the Russian Investigative Committee and the Times of India, most suspects are Russian nationals, some from Saint Petersburg, including a Kazakh national. Named suspects include former police officer Konstantin Shakht, Yury Sharypov, and Vladimir Dalekin. They recruited “middlemen” via Telegram to rent villas, vehicles, and carry out kidnapping and disposal tasks. Seven suspects have been arrested, including two Russian soldiers who participated in the Ukraine war and a former homicide detective. All suspects are in custody facing charges of murder, financial fraud, and illegal fund transfers. Novak’s background: Fraud history and false luxury image Public records show Novak (born 1987, Saint Petersburg) was previously involved in the “Sport v Narod” and “Transcrypt” scams, accused of embezzling about 7.3 million rubles (approximately $68,500), resulting in a 6-year sentence. After release, he moved to Dubai and founded the “Fintopio” platform, falsely claiming connections with Telegram founder Pavel Durov and Arab royalty to attract investments from China and the Middle East, totaling about $500 million. He ultimately fled after selling fake TON tokens. He was also involved in a real estate rental dispute, allegedly embezzling around $4 million. On social media, Novak and his wife often showcased their AC Cobra sports car, private jet, and luxury homes to project the image of successful entrepreneurs, but in reality, they were in financial trouble and in debt. The crypto community seems less sympathetic to the Novak couple’s fate, commenting that Novak made his fortune through scams and was ultimately scammed himself, losing his life as a consequence. Victims of his scams lost money, but this time, he lost his most valuable asset—his life. Related reports: Ethereum fully illegal? New York prosecutors indict “MEV bot crimes”: nodes should act with integrity, and transaction ordering is fraud and money laundering. Is privacy a threat or a breeding ground for crime? Six misconceptions about blockchain privacy. Pump.fun accused of gambling organized crime! Solana Labs and Foundation executives named as defendants, Jito involved in MEV. “Russian crypto scammer couple tragically killed in UAE! Lured to an investment conference, kidnapped, dismembered, and flaunting wealth led to deadly consequences.” This article was first published by BlockTempo, a leading blockchain news media outlet.