A family in southern Brazil thought they were helping a vulnerable 12-year-old girl rebuild her life. More than a year later, authorities allege they discovered the child was actually a 37-year-old woman who had been living under a false identity.
Police in Joinville, a city in Brazil’s Santa Catarina state, arrested Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira on June 2. This followed an investigation into claims that she had posed as a minor and gained the support of a local family and other community members.
According to Brazilian authorities, Oliveira first appeared in the community, identifying herself as a young girl named Gabriele Ferreira dos Santos. She claimed she had fled a difficult home situation. Members of a church reportedly assisted her and eventually helped connect her with a family willing to provide care and support.
Authorities describe how Oliviera perpetrated the alleged deception
Over the following months, the family came to believe they were caring for a 12-year-old child. According to VICE and CNN Brasil, they even began exploring the possibility of formal adoption.
Authorities allege Oliveira carefully maintained the identity. She reportedly presented herself as a child in daily life. She told supporters that medical issues and past hardships explained aspects of her appearance that might otherwise raise questions. The deception continued for roughly 14 months before suspicions emerged.
Investigators revealed that the 37-year-old used baby bottles and pacifiers, and drew childish pictures in front of her hosts. The Joinville family went so far as to throw her a 12th birthday party during her 14-month stay. The unsuspecting couple who took her in were reportedly between 40 and 50 years old, making Amanda nearly the same age as the “parents,” according to the allegations.
According to multiple reports, a family relative began searching for information about Oliveira online after noticing inconsistencies in her story. That search reportedly uncovered references to similar incidents in other parts of Brazil. The relative then alerted authorities, who launched an investigation.
Among her past deceptions, Brazilian media highlighted a bizarre incident years before her Joinville arrest, where medical imaging revealed more than 200 needles inside her body. While she initially claimed others had placed them there, investigators later concluded she had inserted them herself to feign medical hardship and abuse.
Police say Oliveira eventually admitted she was an adult and acknowledged deceiving the family about her age. Investigators have since uncovered a paper trail of similar identity-related offenses and fraudulent schemes spanning multiple Brazilian states over the last decade.
Oliveira has since been formally charged with fraud and false identity for the Joinville case. The trial is suspended pending her June 26 psychiatric evaluation. She remains in custody.
Published: Jun 10, 2026 09:14 pm