23 February 2023 , 16:15
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The family of a woman who is convinced she is the missing Madeleine McCann say they are "devastated" over the situation.
Julia Wendell, 21, from Poland, set social media ablaze after creating the @iammadeleinemccann Instagram account, and claiming that she had "evidence" to support her staunch belief in being the missing Brit child.
Madeleine went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Portugal's Algarve in 2007.
Despite several extensive police investigations, very little information has been recovered about what happened to her after her abduction.
Police are convinced she was killed and have charged German paedophile Christian Brueckner, 47, with her murder.
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Julia has shared "evidence" including a speck in her eye and freckle on her leg in the same place as Madeleine.
Julia has been sharing pictures of herself as a youngster (Facebook/zaginieniprzedlaty)
Her family says they've tried to help her (@iammadeleinemccan/Instagram)Now a Polish charity called Missing Years Ago has released a statement on behalf of Julia's family.
They claim to have "memories" and photographs which discredit Julia's claims.
Their own evidence makes it "obvious that Julia is our daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin and step niece".
The family said: "For us as a family it is obvious that Julia is our daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin and step niece. We have memories, we have pictures.
Madeleine McCann disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve in 2007 (Getty Images)"Julia also has these photos, because she took them from the family home with the birth certificate, as well as numerous hospital discharges.
"We always tried to understand all situations that happened with Julia.
"Threats to our address from Julia, her lies and manipulations, activity on the internet. We've seen it all and we've tried to prevent it, to explain, we've asked her to stop.
Police are convinced Madeleine was killed (PA)"We always tried to help her get back on her feet. Julia has been of age for several years. She has moved out of the house.
"Julia once wanted to be a singer, a model. She always wanted to be popular. What's happening now she got one million followers.
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"We're afraid Julia will carry the inevitable. The internet won't forget, and it's obvious that Julia isn't Maddie.
"We are devastated at this current situation."
After Julia's posts went viral, a source close to Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry McCann called for the 21-year-old to undergo a DNA test because they're "willing to look at all leads".
Julia has amassed an army of followers on Instagram (INSTAGRAM)A source close to the parents 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."
But yesterday, a private detective called Francisco Marco - who led the hunt for Maddie after her disappearance - says he has carried out analysis which rules out the possibility of Julia being the missing girl.