37-year-old Brazilian woman acts like 12, gets adopted, then arrested in 'multi-state fraud scheme'

A 37-year-old woman has been arrested in Brazil on charges of fraud and identity theft after allegedly posing as a 12-year-old girl under the false name "Gabriele."

Authorities said Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira is suspected of carrying out at least seven similar scams across multiple states and was linked to the cases following a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation, as cited by The Sun.

The arrest was carried out at the family's residence in the Pirabeiraba district, where the suspect had reportedly been living for nearly 14 months while posing as a child.

According to investigators, the woman allegedly claimed to have autism and other medical conditions to sustain the deception and gain the family's trust. She reportedly explained her adult appearance by saying it resulted from the forced use of hormones during childhood, as per a statement by the Santa Catarina police.

The suspect also adopted childlike mannerisms to reinforce the false identity, regularly using items such as pacifiers, baby bottles and toys.

Police said their investigation suggests the accused is a repeat offender with a history of carrying out similar frauds.

Authorities have linked her to cases in multiple Brazilian states, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul and Goiás.

One volunteer in Rio de Janeiro told local media that the suspect contacted her through social media in 2023 seeking assistance.

“She said her father had forced her into prostitution and that he was involved in witchcraft rituals,” the volunteer said, as cited by The Sun.

According to investigators, the couple who took Oliveira into their home treated her as their daughter for 14 months and held a birthday celebration for her during that period.

Police said the couple had considered formally adopting her and paying for the weight-loss medication Mounjaro after she claimed to suffer from health problems linked to childhood abuse.

Investigators said Oliveira avoided discussions about formal adoption and did not carry identification documents.

The alleged deception continued for 14 months before a relative became suspicious and searched online for similar cases. The relative later alerted police, who found reports linking Oliveira to several similar incidents in different parts of Brazil.

Authorities said Oliveira had previously been detained in Rio de Janeiro and Goiás in connection with similar allegations but was later released.

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