A woman accused of deceiving families into believing she was a vulnerable 12-year-old girl has marked her 38th birthday behind bars. Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira has been held at Joinville Women's Prison since June 2 after being arrested on allegations that she posed as an abandoned child and tricked families across several Brazilian states.
Charges and Arrest
Prosecutors have charged Souza de Oliveira with fraud and false identity. She celebrated her 38th birthday in custody on June 10. The suspect was arrested after allegedly living with her most recent family for 14 months before the deception was uncovered. Police said she presented herself to the family as a girl named Gabriele.
How the Scam Unfolded
Court records reportedly show that she first approached the family through a church pastor, claiming she was 18, had baking experience, and was seeking work. After the couple allowed her to stay temporarily, she allegedly began saying she had health problems and no money. Police said Souza de Oliveira later changed her story, telling the family she was only 11 and had been abused. The couple believed they were helping a vulnerable child and even organized a party for what they thought was her 12th birthday.
Suspicions and Indictment
Souza de Oliveira was arrested after a relative of the family became suspicious. Police have indicted her for fraud and false identity. Nutritionist Renata Magalhaes, who claims she was targeted by the same scam in Rio de Janeiro in 2023, alleged that Souza de Oliveira researched how to imitate a child and copy the behavior of an autistic teenager.
Renata, a clinical child nutritionist specializing in autism, said the alleged act worked because autism is diagnosed through clinical signs rather than laboratory tests. She claimed Souza de Oliveira used drawings, childish behavior, and fake crises to maintain the deception. Renata also alleged that Souza de Oliveira, who introduced herself as "Duda," claimed her father had forced her into prostitution and made her take hormones to explain her adult appearance and lack of documents.
Renata further claimed she saw Souza de Oliveira vomit needles on several occasions. "She vomited the needle. She did it in front of me," Renata said. "It is bizarre. I have seen many people laughing and making jokes on the internet, but she is a fraudster, a narcissist, a dangerous woman. She is a person who puts on a character like a coat and creates a totally fake narrative." Renata alleged that police later found searches on Souza de Oliveira's phone about autistic behavior and how to make drawings that would move religious families. "Her phone was full of searches. She researched how an autistic person behaves, how to make drawings to move evangelical people and, to make it worse, there was a huge history of pornographic films," Renata added.
Previous Allegations
Social worker Delma Soares, from Belo Horizonte, alleged that Souza de Oliveira had also lived with her in 2017 while using the name Carolina and claiming to be a vulnerable teenager. Delma claimed Souza de Oliveira arrived wearing Minnie Mouse clothes, carrying a backpack and a Minnie Mouse headband, and appeared much younger than her real age. She said Souza de Oliveira called everyone "auntie," cried often, slept a lot, and became jealous when Delma gave attention to other children.
Police said Souza de Oliveira admitted using the same scam in Curitiba, Nova Iguacu, Minas Gerais, Goias, and Ceara. Officers in Santa Catarina are also investigating two further cases in Florianopolis and Chapeco.
Legal Proceedings
Court proceedings were suspended after her defense requested a mental health examination. The psychiatric assessment was scheduled for June 26 in Florianopolis, the state capital of Santa Catarina. Defense lawyer Rafael Luiz Siewert said the legal team was awaiting the results of the evaluation before deciding what measures to take in the case. He added that the court had suspended the proceedings until the expert report was completed and submitted.
