A 38-year-old woman in Brazil, Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison for fraud after posing as a 12-year-old girl with autism to live with an unsuspecting family. Authorities reported that Oliveira sustained the deception for 14 months in the city of Joinville, Santa Catarina, before her true identity was discovered.
The case began in 2025 when Oliveira started attending a local church, initially identifying as an 18-year-old seeking employment. A pastor introduced her to a couple who allowed her to move into their home after she began presenting herself as "Gabriele," a young girl with severe autism. To maintain the ruse, Oliveira used a pacifier, drank from a baby bottle, and carried a doll, according to police reports cited by Folha de Sao Paulo and BBC Brasil.
During her time with the family, the couple paid for all of Oliveira's expenses, decorated a bedroom with toys for her, and hosted a party for her supposed 12th birthday. She also persuaded them to pay for weight-loss medication. The fraud was uncovered when a relative became suspicious and found news reports of a similar incident involving Oliveira in Rio de Janeiro from three years prior. Investigators later found that Oliveira had used similar tactics in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, and Goiás.
Following her arrest, a judge in Santa Catarina dismissed a defense claim that Oliveira was mentally ill and not criminally responsible. The court determined she acted deliberately and consciously. Upon her arrest, police noted that Oliveira immediately ceased her childlike behavior and spoke in her adult voice. While she admitted to lying, she told authorities she did not intend to scam anyone.
For the public, this case highlights the potential for the exploitation of private charity and the difficulty of verifying identity within religious or community organizations. A person in a similar situation would notice the immediate loss of funds spent on the individual’s care and potential emotional distress following the revelation of the deception. The scale of the reported activity spans at least six Brazilian states, suggesting a long-term pattern of behavior involving multiple aliases and different victim profiles, such as the two women in Rio de Janeiro who rented an apartment for her in 2023.
The legal proceedings set a precedent in the Santa Catarina court system regarding the rejection of mental illness as a defense for this specific type of recurring fraud. By ruling that Oliveira acted consciously, the court held her legally accountable for the 18-month prison term. The investigation remains active as authorities, including investigator Rodrigo Gusso, believe there may be additional victims across Brazil who have not yet come forward. Oliveira has begun serving her sentence following the court's decision.