Ekaterina Barrett was a familiar sight in Mayfair and Monaco - some of Europe's most exclusive addresses.
The apparent multi-millionaire loved high fashion, and wore flamboyant designer clothes while walking her Italian greyhounds.
She was known for gambling in casinos and spending big money in high-end boutiques. But she was also someone who could "get you to do things you would never do", says British shop owner Bridget Hutchcroft.
She was "like a snake".
Hutchcroft - who is owed more than £1.6m ($2.1m) by Barrett - is one of many former friends and associates who accuse the 69-year-old of being a fraudster.
