A 12-year-old girl adopted by a Brazilian family turned out to be 37 years old.

A 12-year-old girl adopted by a Brazilian family turned out to be 37 years old.

04.06.2026 01:50

An unusual fraud case occurred in Brazil. A 37-year-old woman who posed as a 12-year-old girl claiming to be a victim of violence and abuse was found to have lived with a charitable family for about 14 months, pretending to be a child. The woman's incredible chain of lies came to light when a relative of the family, who became suspicious, reported the situation to the police.

Brazil, a South American country, is discussing a scam story that rivals movie plots. It has been determined that a 37-year-old woman deceived a family for over a year by pretending to be a child.

SHE FIRST WENT TO CHURCH PLAYING THE VICTIM CHILD ROLE

According to information shared by authorities, the scam process began when the 37-year-old woman, using the alias "Gabriele," took refuge in a church in Joinville. Telling church officials that she was severely abused by her family living in the state of Para and fled home to save her life, the woman painted a picture of deep pain.

Brazilian family adopted

According to local media, church members who fully believed the woman's tragic story initially provided financial aid and then arranged for a charitable family where she could permanently stay. The family, who embraced the woman like their own child, gradually became emotionally attached to the suspect and cared for her just like their biological children.

Brazilian family adopted

SHE CHOSE INCREDIBLE METHODS TO HIDE HER APPEARANCE

It was determined that the woman, who wanted to convince the family she was a 12-year-old child despite being 37, told unbelievable lies and developed methods to camouflage her adult appearance.

Brazilian scam woman

To explain her adult features and body structure, the scam woman claimed she had autism and that her family had forced her to take heavy hormone medications in the past, causing early development. To reinforce her child image and maintain her lie, she constantly used baby bottles and pacifiers at home. It was reported that the woman, who faked panic attack crises at night, also pitched her voice like a child when speaking.

Brazilian scam woman

When the charitable family wanted to formalize the situation and legally adopt the woman, she constantly dodged the subject, claiming she had lost her identity documents. She justified not wanting to go to school with the lie, "My violent father might come to school and find me," and continued to stay home.

Brazilian scam woman

A RELATIVE'S SUSPICION EXPOSED THE SCAM: SHE DID IT IN 5 MORE STATES

This major scam, which could have lasted for years, came to light when a relative of the family, suspicious of the situation and the woman's behavior, reported it to the police. Following the report, security forces raided the home on June 2 and detained the 37-year-old woman, who confessed to her crime during questioning and was sent to prison by the court.

Police teams deepening the investigation determined that the woman had a substantial criminal record. Examinations revealed that the woman had previously used similar methods to scam families and institutions in five different states, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais, exploiting people's emotions by pretending to be a child.

Brazilian scam woman arrested

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