# High-Flying Crypto Scammer and Wife Dismembered After Fleeing Investors

The bodies of Russian cryptocurrency fraudster Roman Novak and his wife Anna have been discovered dismembered and buried in the desert near Dubai, marking a tragic end to their month-long disappearance. The couple vanished in early October after traveling to meet what they believed was a potential investor in Hatta, a village southeast of Dubai.

## The Disappearance

Roman Novak and Anna were last seen on October 2 when they headed to a lake near the Hatta mountain resort to meet an unknown investor. Their driver transported them to a car park near the lake, where they transferred into another vehicle and departed. The couple’s mobile phones were traced to Hatta and Oman within days of their disappearance, later appearing in Cape Town, South Africa, before going silent on October 4.

## The Criminal Background

Novak had an extensive criminal history centered on cryptocurrency fraud. He was previously sentenced to six years in prison in Russia in 2020 for large-scale fraud. After being granted parole, he relocated to the UAE where he created a cryptocurrency app called Fintopio. Through this platform, he reportedly raised approximately $500 million in investment before allegedly defrauding investors, many of whom came from China and the Middle East.

The couple became known for flaunting their wealth on social media, regularly posting images of luxury cars, private jets, and connections to prominent figures in the tech industry.

## The Investigation

Russian authorities opened a criminal case for murder following the couple’s unexplained disappearance. Seven people suspected of involvement have been detained in Russia, with three facing murder charges and four accused of acting as intermediaries in illegal financial transactions. According to investigators, the murder suspects came from St. Petersburg and Kazakhstan and had returned to Russia after the crime.

Officials revealed that the abduction was coordinated by accomplices who rented vehicles and premises to detain the victims by force. The kidnappers’ initial plan involved demanding a substantial ransom or accessing the couple’s bank accounts. However, after failing to obtain either, they murdered both victims.

Following the murders, the suspects disposed of weapons and the victims’ personal belongings across multiple locations throughout the United Arab Emirates. The dismembered remains were discovered buried in containers near a shopping center in Hatta approximately one month after the couple disappeared.

## The Aftermath

All suspects are expected to be extradited to St. Petersburg for prosecution. Meanwhile, Anna’s father and stepmother traveled to Dubai to care for their underage grandchild, who survived the ordeal.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with cryptocurrency fraud and the criminal underworld it attracts. What began as an apparent business opportunity in the world of digital assets ended in tragedy for a family that had built its fortune through deception.

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