Russian couple found dead in UAE desert amid probe into $500-million crypto scam

A Russian cryptocurrency businessman and his wife were discovered dead in a deserted stretch of the United Arab Emirates, their bodies stuffed inside plastic bags, as per reports. Investigators suspect the killings were part of an extortion plot tied to a massive USD 500-million crypto scheme and a fight over access to digital wallets.

According to reports,  the victims were 38-year-old Roman Novak and his wife Anna. Their deaths surfaced after several suspects were taken into custody, according to multiple media reports. Early findings indicate the couple may have been targeted because of disputes surrounding cryptocurrency investments and control of digital assets.

The pair vanished on October 2 after their private driver dropped them near a lake in the Hatta area, close to the Oman border. They were reportedly on their way to meet potential investors for a new blockchain venture. From there, they allegedly got into another vehicle and disappeared.

When repeated phone calls went unanswered, relatives contacted authorities in Russia, prompting a joint investigation with police in the UAE. Phone tracking data showed their devices last connected between Hatta and Oman before shutting off completely on October 4.

Detectives now believe the Novaks were tricked into travelling to a rented villa where they were detained and pressured to hand over access to their cryptocurrency wallets. After the suspects failed to gain control of the digital funds, the couple were murdered.

Their bodies were later unearthed in the desert—sealed inside heavy plastic, reportedly treated with chemicals to hinder identification. Russian outlet 47news said the remains were scattered across a 500-metre patch of land. Other unconfirmed reports claim parts of the dismembered bodies may have been dumped in bins at a nearby shopping complex.

The UAE has begun the process of sending the remains back to Russia for further forensic analysis.

Novak was known on social media for flaunting a glamorous lifestyle in Dubai with his wife. He promoted himself as the creator of Fintopio, a platform that advertised lightning-fast crypto transfers and attracted investors from Russia, China, the Middle East and beyond.

But his background was far from clean. In 2020, he was convicted in Russia for large-scale financial fraud and sentenced to six years in prison. He was paroled in 2023 and soon relocated to Dubai, where he launched fresh digital-finance ventures.

Investigative reports in Russia allege that up to USD 500 million was collected through Fintopio and related projects. Wallet functions were abruptly suspended for an “operational check” around the time the Novaks disappeared—fueling suspicion of a major investment scandal.

Russian authorities are now examining whether conflicts over the missing funds sparked the kidnapping and murder.

So far, at least seven suspects have been detained in Russia, with cross-border cooperation between Moscow and Abu Dhabi ongoing. Authorities have classified the case as a planned abduction, extortion attempt and double homicide.