Vicky heads to Austria to investigate a hidden chapter in Ekaterina’s past and her connections to Viennese high society. A 95-year-old opera singer reveals that Ekaterina’s influence over her husband threatened to destroy their marriage.

Vicky heads to Austria to investigate a hidden chapter in Ekaterina&rsquo;s past and her connections to Viennese high society. A 95-year-old opera singer reveals that Ekaterina&rsquo;s influence over her husband threatened to destroy their marriage.

When London boutique owner Bridget Hutchcroft befriends a glamorous client at her Knightsbridge dress agency, she believes she has met a Russian socialite with vast wealth and powerful connections. Ekaterina Barrett glides through luxury apartments, London’s finest hotels and European high society dinners with unwavering confidence. Chauffeurs wait outside. Extravagant goods pile up. Money, it seems, is no object.

Until it vanishes.

Bridget generously lends her wealthy new friend more than a million pounds, but it proves to be a disastrous mistake.

When Ekaterina refuses to pay the money back, Bridget’s loyal circle of friends step in. Journalist Vicky Baker joins them in a frantic search for answers. It turns out Bridget is not the only one claiming to be severely out of pocket thanks to the broken promises of her mysterious former friend.

What follows is an international investigation stretching from London to Vienna, the Netherlands and Monaco. Courtrooms, casinos and opera houses all reveal fragments of an increasingly bizarre story.

Witnesses describe charm turning into control. Court appearances descend into farce. Documents emerge that challenge everything Ekaterina has claimed under oath. At the centre of it all is a burning question. If Ekaterina now insists she owns nothing, who is funding the lavish life she continues to live?

Fraudacious follows Bridget’s fight for justice as the legal battle intensifies and Ekaterina’s world begins to fracture while she continues to maintain her innocence. Each episode peels back another layer of performance, power, and deception, revealing how easily wealth can be manipulated and how devastating the cost can be for those who are lured in.

This is a story about trust and illusion. About how the promise of wealth can be as potent as the real thing. And about whether the truth can finally catch up with someone who has spent a lifetime trying to stay one step ahead of everyone on her trail.

When London boutique owner Bridget Hutchcroft befriends a glamorous client at her Knightsbridge dress agency, she believes she has met a Russian socialite with vast wealth and powerful connections. Ekaterina Barrett glides through luxury apartments, London&rsquo;s finest hotels and European high society dinners with unwavering confidence. Chauffeurs wait outside. Extravagant goods pile up. Money, it seems, is no object.
Until it vanishes.
Bridget generously lends her wealthy new friend more than a million pounds, but it proves to be a disastrous mistake.
When Ekaterina refuses to pay the money back, Bridget&rsquo;s loyal circle of friends step in. Journalist Vicky Baker joins them in a frantic search for answers. It turns out Bridget is not the only one claiming to be severely out of pocket thanks to the broken promises of her mysterious former friend.
What follows is an international investigation stretching from London to Vienna, the Netherlands and Monaco. Courtrooms, casinos and opera houses all reveal fragments of an increasingly bizarre story.
Witnesses describe charm turning into control. Court appearances descend into farce. Documents emerge that challenge everything Ekaterina has claimed under oath. At the centre of it all is a burning question. If Ekaterina now insists she owns nothing, who is funding the lavish life she continues to live?
Fraudacious follows Bridget&rsquo;s fight for justice as the legal battle intensifies and Ekaterina&rsquo;s world begins to fracture while she continues to maintain her innocence. Each episode peels back another layer of performance, power, and deception, revealing how easily wealth can be manipulated and how devastating the cost can be for those who are lured in.
This is a story about trust and illusion. About how the promise of wealth can be as potent as the real thing. And about whether the truth can finally catch up with someone who has spent a lifetime trying to stay one step ahead of everyone on her trail.

A mysterious socialite accused of stealing millions before claiming to be penniless sparks a wild international investigation.

Fraudacious

When London boutique owner Bridget Hutchcroft befriends a glamorous client at her Knightsbridge dress agency, she believes she has met a Russian socialite with vast wealth and powerful connections. Ekaterina Barrett glides through luxury apartments, London’s finest hotels and European high society dinners with unwavering confidence. Chauffeurs wait outside. Extravagant goods pile up. Money, it seems, is no object. 

Until it vanishes. 

Bridget generously lends her wealthy new friend more than a million pounds, but it proves to be a disastrous mistake. 

When Ekaterina refuses to pay the money back, Bridget’s loyal circle of friends step in. Journalist Vicky Baker joins them in a frantic search for answers. It turns out Bridget is not the only one claiming to be severely out of pocket thanks to the broken promises of her mysterious former friend. 

What follows is an international investigation stretching from London to Vienna, the Netherlands and Monaco. Courtrooms, casinos and opera houses all reveal fragments of an increasingly bizarre story. 

Witnesses describe charm turning into control. Court appearances descend into farce. Documents emerge that challenge everything Ekaterina has claimed under oath. At the centre of it all is a burning question. If Ekaterina now insists she owns nothing, who is funding the lavish life she continues to live? 

Fraudacious follows Bridget’s fight for justice as the legal battle intensifies and Ekaterina’s world begins to fracture while she continues to maintain her innocence. Each episode peels back another layer of performance, power, and deception, revealing how easily wealth can be manipulated and how devastating the cost can be for those who are lured in. 

This is a story about trust and illusion. About how the promise of wealth can be as potent as the real thing. And about whether the truth can finally catch up with someone who has spent a lifetime trying to stay one step ahead of everyone on her trail. 

Fraudacious is a Novel production for BBC Studios, the BBC’s commercial subsidiary

When London boutique owner Bridget Hutchcroft befriends a glamorous client at her Knightsbridge dress agency, she believes she has met a Russian socialite with vast wealth and powerful connections. Ekaterina Barrett glides through luxury apartments, London&rsquo;s finest&nbsp;hotels&nbsp;and European high society dinners with unwavering confidence. Chauffeurs wait outside. Extravagant goods pile up. Money, it seems, is no object.&nbsp;
Until it vanishes.&nbsp;
Bridget generously lends her wealthy new friend more than a million pounds, but it proves to be a disastrous mistake.&nbsp;
When Ekaterina refuses to pay the money back, Bridget&rsquo;s loyal circle of friends step in. Journalist Vicky Baker joins them in a frantic search for answers. It turns out Bridget is not the only one claiming to be severely out of pocket thanks to the broken promises of her mysterious former friend.&nbsp;
What follows is an international investigation stretching from London to Vienna, the Netherlands and Monaco. Courtrooms, casinos and opera houses all reveal fragments of an increasingly bizarre story.&nbsp;
Witnesses describe charm turning into control. Court appearances descend into farce. Documents emerge that challenge everything Ekaterina has claimed under oath. At the centre of it all is a burning question. If Ekaterina now insists she owns nothing, who is funding the lavish life she continues to live?&nbsp;
Fraudacious follows Bridget&rsquo;s fight for justice as the legal battle intensifies and Ekaterina&rsquo;s world begins to fracture while she continues to maintain her innocence. Each episode peels back another layer of performance, power, and deception, revealing how easily wealth can be manipulated and how devastating the cost can be for those who are lured in.&nbsp;
This is a story about trust and illusion. About how the promise of wealth can be as potent as the real thing. And about whether the truth can finally catch up with someone who has spent a lifetime trying to stay one step ahead of everyone on her trail.&nbsp;
Fraudacious is a Novel production for BBC Studios, the BBC&rsquo;s commercial subsidiary

Vicky heads to Austria to investigate a hidden chapter in Ekaterina’s past and her connections to Viennese high society. A 95-year-old opera singer reveals that Ekaterina’s influence over her husband threatened to destroy their marriage. 

Episode Three: The Vienna Connection

In Monaco, Ekaterina’s lavish lifestyle appears to be unraveling. Vicky heads to Monte Carlo to confront her, while Bridget makes a final push to recover what she’s owed.Is the game finally up?

Contains Strong Language

In Monaco, Ekaterina&rsquo;s lavish lifestyle appears to be unraveling. Vicky heads to Monte Carlo to confront her, while Bridget makes a final push to recover what she&rsquo;s owed.Is the game finally up?
Contains Strong Language

In Monaco, Ekaterina’s lavish lifestyle appears to be unraveling. Vicky heads to Monte Carlo to confront her, while Bridget makes a final push to recover what she’s owed.Is the game finally up?

Episode Six: House of Cards

The downfall of a European steel magnate may hold the key to Ekaterina’s mystery millions.

Vicky travels to the Netherlands to unpick their tangled relationship. In London, Bridget seeks to prove that Ekaterina has been lying in court to cover her tracks.

The downfall of a European steel magnate may hold the key to Ekaterina&rsquo;s mystery millions.
Vicky travels to the Netherlands to unpick their tangled relationship. In London, Bridget seeks to prove that Ekaterina has been lying in court to cover her tracks.

The downfall of a European steel magnate may hold the key to Ekaterina’s mystery millions. Vicky travels to the Netherlands to unpick their tangled relationship. In London, Bridget seeks to prove that Ekaterina has been lying in court to cover her tracks. 

Episode Five: The Windfall

Bridget’s case reaches London’s High Court, but Ekaterina’s bizarre witness box antics land her in deeper trouble. Meanwhile, Bridget’s best friend uncovers a bombshell document that could unravel the truth behind Ekaterina’s wealth.

Bridget&rsquo;s case reaches London&rsquo;s High Court, but Ekaterina&rsquo;s bizarre witness box antics land her in deeper trouble. Meanwhile, Bridget&rsquo;s best friend uncovers a bombshell document that could unravel the truth behind Ekaterina&rsquo;s wealth.

Episode Three: The Vienna Connection

In 1 playlist(s)

Fraudacious

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips