A Russian cryptocurrency millionaire, Roman Novak, 38, and his wife, Anna, have been found dead in the United Arab Emirates after being lured into a deadly trap disguised as an investment meeting.
According to verified reports from The Moscow Times, The Straits Times, and The Week, the couple, who lived in Dubai, were last seen on October 2, 2025, when they set out for a meeting with supposed investors in Hatta, a picturesque mountain resort near the Oman border.
Their personal driver dropped them off near a lake, where they switched to another vehicle for the rest of the journey.
Shortly after, Novak sent a distress message to contacts, saying he was “stuck in the mountains on the Oman border” and desperately needed £152,000. That was the last time anyone heard from the couple.
Authorities tracked the couple’s phones to Hatta and Oman, and later to Cape Town, South Africa, before all signals vanished.
Investigators now believe the kidnappers deliberately moved or switched on the phones in different locations to mislead authorities.
A month later, the dismembered remains of Roman and Anna Novak were discovered buried in a Dubai desert, prompting a joint murder investigation between Russian and UAE authorities.
Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed that the couple had been abducted, held in a rented villa, and murdered after their captors failed to access their cryptocurrency wallets.
The killers allegedly sought control of the couple’s digital assets, estimated to be worth millions of dollars.
Multiple Russian nationals have been identified and detained in connection with the gruesome crime.
International cooperation between Moscow and Dubai police is ongoing to extradite key suspects and recover potential stolen crypto assets.
Before his death, Roman Novak was known in Dubai’s elite circles for his luxury lifestyle. He recently purchased an exclusive British AC Cobra sports car.
However, Russian court records reveal that he was previously convicted of large-scale financial fraud in St Petersburg in 2020 and served part of a six-year prison sentence before relocating to the UAE.
The murder has sparked global outrage and renewed attention on the dangers of crypto-related extortion and investment scams.
Experts warn that high-profile investors flaunting their wealth remain prime targets for organized criminal networks.
Authorities in both Russia and the UAE continue to investigate the killings, as families and colleagues of the Novaks demand justice.
Sources:
The Moscow Times | The Straits Times | The Week | Times of India | Finance Magnates | New York Post
