Russian cryptocurrency scammer Roman Novak and his wife traveled to a rented villa in the Hatta mountains of the UAE in early October, claiming they would attend a cryptocurrency investment conference, but unexpectedly both met their demise. What happened? (Background: Bitcoin users are 'kidnapped every week,' experts warn that KYC leaks from centralized exchanges are the main cause) (Supplementary background: Kidnapping for ransom, deadly murders, and serial cases, five documented incidents in the cryptocurrency space) Russian cryptocurrency scammer Roman Novak and his wife Anna Novak mysteriously disappeared in early October in the UAE, and it was later confirmed that they were kidnapped and brutally murdered. Investigations revealed that this former cryptocurrency fraudster met his end along with his wife after being lured to the Hatta mountains in the UAE for a cryptocurrency investment conference, where they faced kidnapping for ransom, ultimately leading to their deaths. Currently, the Russian Investigative Committee has opened a case regarding this matter and is cooperating with UAE authorities, with multiple suspects already arrested. Disappearance process: Mysteriously vanishing on the way to the 'investment conference' On October 2, the Novak couple set off from Dubai to a rented villa in the Hatta mountains, claiming they would attend a cryptocurrency investment conference. After being dropped off by their driver at a lakeside parking lot, they transferred to another vehicle and vanished without a trace. According to CryptoSlate, the actual kidnappers disguised themselves as potential investors, intending to kidnap the Novak couple for ransom or force them to hand over the private keys to their cryptocurrency wallet. However, the suspects mistakenly believed that the wallet contained billions of dollars in assets, unaware that it had already been squandered by Novak. Days after their disappearance, the couple's mobile signals briefly appeared in Hatta, on the Oman border, and in Cape Town, South Africa, but they completely disappeared after October 4. Crime scene: Bloodstains, weapons, and surveillance footage reveal the truth Police identified the suspects through surveillance footage, showing them driving a Range Rover and a Ford vehicle transporting the bodies of the Novak couple. After their failed operation, the kidnappers killed and dismembered the couple, disposing of the remains in black plastic bags in a dumpster at the Hatta shopping center and in the Fujairah desert region. Additionally, police found Anna's bloodstains, blood in the rented vehicle, a concealed weapon, and a T-shirt left by the suspects inside the rented villa. Suspect backgrounds: Involvement of former police officers and Russian soldiers According to the Russian Investigative Committee and Times of India, many of the suspects are Russian nationals, with some hailing from St. Petersburg, including one Kazakh man. The named suspects include former police officer Konstantin Shakht, Yury Sharypov, and Vladimir Dalekin. They recruited 'middlemen' through Telegram to rent villas, cars, and execute kidnappings and body disposal as part of their 'dirty tasks.' So far, seven suspects have been apprehended, including two Russian soldiers who participated in the war in Ukraine and a former homicide detective. All suspects are in custody, facing multiple charges including murder, financial fraud, and illegal fund transfers. Novak's background: Fraud history and luxurious facade Public records show that Novak (born in 1987, from St. Petersburg) was previously charged with embezzling about 7.3 million rubles (approximately $68,500) in the 'Sport v Narod' and 'Transcrypt' fraud cases in 2020, receiving a six-year sentence. After his release, he moved to Dubai and founded the 'Fintopio' platform, exaggerating his connections with Telegram founder Pavel Durov and the Arab royal family, allegedly attracting investments of about $500 million from China and the Middle East, ultimately fleeing with the money after selling fake TON tokens. In addition, he was involved in a real estate rental dispute, accused of misappropriating around $4 million in funds. On social media, the Novak couple often flaunted their AC Cobra sports car, private jet, and luxurious mansion, creating an image of 'successful entrepreneurs,' while in reality, they were financially struggling and heavily in debt. In this regard, the cryptocurrency community seems unsympathetic to the couple's plight, commenting that Novak, having made his fortune through fraud, ultimately fell victim to fraud himself, losing his life. However, the victims he previously defrauded lost money, while this time he lost his most precious asset: his life. Related reports: Is Ethereum all illegal? New York prosecutors charge 'MEV bot crimes': Nodes should uphold integrity, arranging transactions constitutes fraud and money laundering. Threats to privacy, a breeding ground for crime? Six misconceptions about blockchain privacy. Pump.fun accused of organized gambling crimes! Solana Labs, foundation executives named as defendants, and Jito involved in MEV also won't be spared. 'Russian cryptocurrency scammer couple brutally murdered in the UAE! Lured to an investment conference, kidnapped and dismembered, their ostentatious display of wealth led to their demise.' This article was first published in BlockTempo (the most influential blockchain news media).