Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, 37, was arrested on June 2 by the Civil Police of Santa Catarina after pretending to be 12 years old and deceiving a family in Joinville for 14 months. Identified by the family as "Gabriele," she claimed to be autistic and to have suffered abuse in Pará to justify her appearance and obtain shelter. She used pacifiers, baby bottles and made children’s drawings to reinforce her false identity. The family, linked to an evangelical community, treated her as an adopted daughter, providing a decorated bedroom, gifts and even a 12th birthday party.The scheme was uncovered by the suspect’s "adoptive aunt," who recognized Amanda in reports about a similar case that occurred in Nova Iguaçu (Rio de Janeiro state) in 2023. Two days later, the case was reported to police. When confronted by investigators, Amanda confessed to the fraud, revealed her real name and said she was from Ceará.
According to police, she had carried out similar scams since at least 2018, operating in Minas Gerais, Paraná, Goiás, Ceará, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina, using names such as Beatriz, Ana Clara and Maria Eduarda. The Public Prosecutor’s Office charged her with false identity and fraud, but the case has been suspended until a mental health evaluation is carried out, scheduled for June 26. Her defense said it is awaiting the expert assessment before deciding on further measures.
