A Russian man involved in cryptocurrency fraud and his wife were abducted and killed while being held for ransom overseas. Roman Novak and his wife Anna were reported missing in early October when their relatives couldn’t reach them. The suspects, also Russian nationals, demanded money for their release in the United Arab Emirates but resorted to killing them when their demands were not met, as reported by local media on November 7. The suspects are now in custody and will soon face extradition to Saint Petersburg.
Traces of the couple’s mobile phones were detected in Hatta and Oman, then in Cape Town, South Africa, before all signals vanished on October 4. Anna’s father and stepmother traveled to Dubai to take care of their young grandchildren after the couple’s disappearance. The father refrained from sharing further details due to the ongoing investigation. Novak had a previous conviction for fraud in 2020, leading to a six-year sentence in a general regime colony.
Before disappearing, Novak portrayed himself as a successful cryptocurrency investor and the founder of Fintopio, a payment platform facilitating quick cryptocurrency transfers. He lured investors from China, the Middle East, and other regions into his venture by promising collaborations with major tech companies and claiming connections with Arab royalties and Telegram founder Pavel Durov. After allegedly collecting around USD 500 million (GBP 381 million) from investors, Novak reportedly fled, leaving his employees unpaid and investors at a loss.
In a previous fraud case, Novak was found guilty of defrauding partners in projects named “Sport v narod” and “Transcrypt,” embezzling approximately RUB 7.3 million (£68,500) through deceptive payment practices and exploitation of trust. Some Russian media outlets have speculated that defrauded investors might have been involved in the killings, although this remains unconfirmed by investigators.
While several suspects have confessed, the victims’ bodies have not been recovered yet, and the investigation is ongoing. This incident follows a global crackdown led by the National Crime Agency on a multi-billion pound Russian money laundering network with ties to the UK. According to the NCA, the investigation involved collaborations across various criminal sectors, including drug cartels, cyber-criminals, and intelligence agents, operating on an unprecedented scale.
The operation, led by Ekaterina Zhdanova and George Rossi, facilitated the exchange of cash from British street gangs for cyber-currency obtained by Russian hackers.