In a bizarre case of deception, a 37-year-old woman was arrested in the Pirabeiraba district of Joinville, Brazil, after convincing a family to adopt her by posing as a 12-year-old girl named 'Gabriele'. For approximately 14 months, she lived with the family, claiming to have fled from abusive parents in the northern state of Para. The woman adopted various childlike behaviors, such as using baby bottles and pacifiers, to maintain her facade. She also claimed to suffer from autism and other medical conditions to explain her adult appearance. The family, emotionally attached to her, even organized a birthday party and contemplated formal adoption. The ruse was uncovered when a relative reported her to the authorities, prompting an investigation that revealed her history of similar scams across multiple Brazilian states. Upon her arrest on June 2, she confessed to the deception and was charged with fraud and false identity offenses. As of now, she remains in custody at Joinville Regional Prison.