RUSSIAN CRYPTO FRAUDSTER AND WIFE KILLED IN UAE AFTER KIDNAPPING

Authorities say kidnappers failed to extract £380 million from the couple’s cryptocurrency accounts

Funmi Adewoju SuleoduDecember 4, 20251 Mins read

A convicted Russian cryptocurrency fraudster, Roman Novak, and his wife, Anna, were killed in the United Arab Emirates after kidnappers were reportedly unable to access £380 million from their digital wallets, Russian and Emirati authorities have confirmed.

The couple disappeared on October 2 after being lured to the Hatta resort, about 80 miles from Dubai, by individuals posing as potential investors. Their mobile phones were last traced to a remote area in the Hajar mountains, near the Oman border, where police later recovered their remains more than a month later.

“The investigation has established that the killers had accomplices who helped organise the abduction,” said Svetlana Petrenko of the Russian Investigative Committee.
“They rented cars and premises where the victims were held, and disposed of weapons and personal items across multiple emirates.”

Authorities say the kidnappers pressured the couple to provide access to their cryptocurrency wallets, but the accounts did not contain the funds they sought. Afterward, the suspects attempted to hide evidence by treating the bodies and personal items.

Roman Novak was sentenced to six years in prison in Russia for large-scale fraud in 2020. After being granted parole, he moved to the UAE and launched a crypto app called Fintopio, where he reportedly raised investments worth £380 million before allegedly defrauding investors.

The Dubai police launched an investigation after the couple’s family reported them missing and suspected abduction.

Author

Funmi Adewoju Suleodu

Olufunmilayo Adewoju Suleodu is a veteran journalist, editor, and publisher with more than three decades of experience in journalism, communications, and public affairs.

She has worked across news media, magazine publishing, communications, development-sector engagements, and digital journalism. She currently publishes SageBits Online and reports on governance, development, business, education, traditional institutions, and public affairs.

She is also an elected officer of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun East Independent Chapel, reflecting her continued engagement with the journalism profession and media development.

Based in Ogun State, she is available for freelance reporting, feature writing, editorial assignments, research, project documentation, and development communications work.

Detailed professional history and references are available upon request.

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Written by

Funmi Adewoju Suleodu

Olufunmilayo Adewoju Suleodu is a veteran journalist, editor, and publisher with more than three decades of experience in journalism, communications, and public affairs. She has worked across news media, magazine publishing, communications, development-sector engagements, and digital journalism. She currently publishes SageBits Online and reports on governance, development, business, education, traditional institutions, and public affairs. She is also an elected officer of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun East Independent Chapel, reflecting her continued engagement with the journalism profession and media development. Based in Ogun State, she is available for freelance reporting, feature writing, editorial assignments, research, project documentation, and development communications work. Detailed professional history and references are available upon request.