A 38-year-old woman has been arrested in Brazil for allegedly pretending to be a 12-year-old girl in an attempt to be adopted by an unsuspecting family. The suspect, Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, was taken into custody earlier this month by the Civil Police of Santa Catarina and now faces charges of identity theft and fraud.
How the Deception Unfolded
De Oliveira reportedly lived with a family in Joinville, approximately 530 kilometers southwest of São Paulo, for 14 months. She used the name "Gabriele" and claimed to have autism along with other medical conditions to win the family's trust, according to police. To justify her adult appearance, she alleged that she had suffered abuse and forced hormone treatments during her childhood.
To further her ruse, de Oliveira used pacifiers and baby bottles, played with children's toys, and created childlike drawings. Over the course of more than a year, the family—connected to an evangelical community—treated her as their adopted daughter. They decorated a bedroom for her, gave her gifts, and even celebrated her purported 12th birthday with a party.
How the Hoax Was Discovered
The scheme unraveled when the suspect's "aunt" recognized "Gabriele" from online reports about a similar case from 2023 in Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro state. The aunt reported her suspicions to the police two days later. During questioning, de Oliveira "fully confessed" to the crimes, officers said.
A Repeat Offender
Police allege that de Oliveira has engaged in this type of crime for over 15 years, targeting families in several Brazilian states, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, and Goiás. She is currently held at Joinville Regional Prison. Brazilian news network Globo reported that she has previously used aliases such as "Maria Eduarda" in Rio de Janeiro and "Ana Clara" in São Paulo, sometimes claiming to be a 12-year-old sex trafficking victim.
De Oliveira's charges have been suspended pending a mental health evaluation scheduled for June 26.
