# Identity fraud case in Brazil

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/identity-fraud-case-in-brazil
> Updated: 2026-08-26T11:09:02.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, a 38-year-old woman, was arrested in Joinville, Brazil, after posing as a 12-year-old girl for 14 months to live with a foster family. To maintain the deception, she reportedly used a high-pitched voice and claimed to be a victim of abuse to prevent the family from enrolling her in school or formalizing legal guardianship.

Investigations revealed that de Oliveira may have used similar impersonation tactics across various Brazilian states for approximately 15 years. Following the discovery of the scheme, she was convicted of fraud and identity theft and sentenced to approximately 18 months in prison.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-26: Brazil woman arrested for posing as 12-year-old girl

A 38-year-old woman was arrested in Brazil after successfully posing as a 12-year-old girl for 14 months to live with an unsuspecting family.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazil-woman-arrested-for-posing-as-12-year-old-girl

### 2026-08-24: Brazil woman convicted of posing as 12-year-old to live with foster family

A Brazilian woman, Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, was convicted after spending 14 months posing as a 12-year-old girl to live with a foster family in Joinville.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazil-woman-convicted-of-posing-as-12-year-old-to-live-with-foster-family

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Cite as: Identity fraud case in Brazil. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/identity-fraud-case-in-brazil