Key facts
- A 37-year-old woman is accused of impersonating a 12-year-old.
- She convinced a family to take her in for 14 months.
- The suspect used the fake name 'Gabriele'.
- She claimed to have fled abusive parents.
- The suspect had previously attempted a similar scam.
Police have reported that a 37-year-old woman has been accused of a sophisticated scam where she convinced a family to 'adopt' her for 14 months by posing as a 12-year-old child. The suspect, who used the alias 'Gabriele', claimed to be fleeing an abusive home environment. Authorities noted that this was not the first time the woman had attempted such a deception. The family remained unaware of her true age and identity throughout the period she lived with them.