22 February 2023 , 21:05
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Biometric analysis shows that a woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann bears no resemblance to the missing girl, an investigator has said.
Julia Wendell, from Poland, went viral this week after creating an Instagram account named @iammadeleinemcann, saying she started wondering if she was Maddie "a few months ago" after hearing "something" from her grandma.
She alleged that the McCanns approached her to take a DNA test, and claimed to have a freckle on her leg as well as a speck in her eye in the same places as Maddie.
She is 21-years-old but believes her age could be wrong. Maddie was born in May 2003, meaning that she would now be 19.
However, Francisco Marco - a private detective who led the hunt for Maddie after her disappearance - says he has carried out analysis which rules out the possibility of Ms Wendell being the missing girl.
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Maddie was reported missing during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007 (REX/Shutterstock)
Ms Wendell alleged that the McCanns approached her to take a DNA test (@iammadeleinemccan/Instagram)He told Spanish network RAC1: "I have done a biometric search and there is no resemblance to Madeleine's features."
The former director of the Metodo 3 detective agency said it was strange that Ms Wendell posted the unsubstantiated claims to social media first, before reaching out to Maddie's family.
He added: "I can think it's a fraud, but I can't say without evidence.
"This girl contacted the police and no one paid attention to her, and she later opened the Instagram account where she now has thousands of followers when she had very few before."
In recent months, people have taken to social media as part of a trend to show their likeness to Maddie.
The most recent claims, made on TikTok and Instagram, have seen Ms Wendell comparing her photos to those of Maddie as "evidence" that they are the same person.
Ms Wendell has taken to social media to show her likeness to Maddie (@iammadeleinemccann/Instagram)
Despite extensive searches and countless police investigations, the youngster has never been found (PA)She also wrote on her Instagram story: "I talked with someone from Madeleine's family and I will have a possibility to talk with Madeleine's parents tomorrow and DNA test will be done soon."
In a post published on Friday, Ms Wendell claimed to have spoken to someone who was alleged to be Madeleine's cousin, and who told her she could "have a possibility" to talk to Kate and Gerry McCann to arrange a DNA test.
These claims have not yet been addressed by Madeleine's family.
Her Instagram bio, on a profile that has now gained more than 200,000 followers, says: "I think I can be Madeleine. I need DNA test.
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"Police investigators from UK and Poland try to ignore me. I will tell my story in posts here. Help me."
Answering questions she was asked by some followers, Ms Wendell said she does not remember being taken away and has no recollection of most details of her childhood.
Maddie's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann (Getty Images)She said: "I don't remember being taken away. I mean, I don't remember almost my entire childhood."
The latest comments come after a source close to the McCanns told the Daily Star Sunday that they are "willing to look at all leads".
They said: "The family are taking no chances, they are willing to look at all leads. It is important they look at all of the factors, the girl does look similar. There’s no disputing that.
"If what she says is true, there is every chance it could be her. It all adds up."
However, German investigators believe Maddie - who disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007 - was killed by sex predator Christian Brueckner, who has repeatedly denied having anything to do with the girl's disappearance.
But despite extensive searches and countless police investigations, the youngster's body has never been found.
More than three years since they named Brueckner as their prime suspect, police also appear no closer to charging him, as they do not have enough evidence to prove he is responsible for her disappearance and murder.
The Mirror had previously reported a friend's claims that prosecutors have admitted they are struggling to get enough evidence against him.
They have started re-interviewing Brueckner's friends and associates in a bid to crack the case once and for all.
One pal, who knew the German man when they were living in the Algarve together, spoke to detectives in recent months.
He said: "They believe Chris did it, they say they know he did it, but they told me they don’t have proof. That's why they are going back over old interviews. When they spoke to me they were very open about what the situation is.
"It felt like they are struggling. They just asked the same questions again, there was nothing new."
The McCanns could not be contacted for comment.