Woman in her 30s who pretended to be a child and lived with family found guilty of fraud

Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, 37, has been found guilty of fraud and false identity in Brazil after pretending to be a child for 15 years. She lived with a foster family as their daughter for 14 months, using a childlike voice and fabricating stories about her age. Her lawyer argued she did it to survive, having experienced homelessness and a lack of childhood care, and that she did not intend to cause financial harm.

• Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, 37, was convicted of fraud and false identity in Brazil.
• She posed as a child for 15 years, living with a foster family for 14 months.
• Oliveira used a high-pitched voice and claimed she had fled abuse and taken hormones to appear older.
• Her lawyer stated her actions were a survival mechanism due to past homelessness and lack of care.
• Oliveira admitted to lying but claimed she did not intend to scam anyone, seeking the care she missed as a child.
• She was sentenced to over a year in prison and detention time.