A Brazilian bricklayer sold his belongings and travelled more than 1,900 kilometres to meet a woman he hoped to marry. After reaching his destination, he discovered that she was an artificial intelligence-generated character.
Edimar Rocha Martins, 49, left Imperatriz in Maranhão for Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais. Brazilian outlets put the journey at approximately 2,100 kilometres.
He believed the woman behind a popular social media profile would offer him companionship and a new life on a farm.
Farm videos promise a fresh start
The profile featured Jéssica Oliveira, also known as Jéssica Fazendeira, and reportedly attracted more than 300,000 TikTok followers.
Its videos portrayed a woman living on a farm and looking for a partner. She offered the prospect of accommodation and financial security.
Martins told local broadcaster TV Mirante that he believed the woman was real. He sold his possessions to finance the bus trip on October 9 and arrived two days later.
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“I sold all my things, I got rid of everything,” Martins said, according to the English translation published by Hindustan Times.
Once in Belo Horizonte, he searched for the woman and showed her photographs to people, asking whether they recognised her.
Nobody could help him find her. He eventually approached a local radio station, where journalists explained that the woman did not exist.
Account operator denies private contact
The person behind the profile subsequently acknowledged that Jéssica was an AI-generated character and denied communicating directly with Martins.
Folha de S.Paulo reported that the account published a video denying private conversations or any personal invitation to Belo Horizonte. It described the profile’s purpose as generating engagement for sales.
That account conflicts with Martins’ belief that he had received messages and invitations from a prospective partner.
The available reporting does not establish who, if anyone, communicated privately with him. His belief in a relationship therefore remains distinct from the operator’s account.
Martins also described the loneliness he experienced after his mother’s death. CNN Brasil reported that he viewed the woman in the videos as a chance to start again.
City helps him return
Without enough money to travel home, Martins sought assistance. Belo Horizonte’s municipal migrant support service provided food, shelter and a bus ticket.
Rádio Itatiaia later reported that he left Belo Horizonte on October 13, initially heading towards Tocantins.
He became unwell during the journey and received medical attention. He then continued to Imperatriz, arriving on October 15 and staying with his sister.
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In an October 16 update, Martins thanked those who helped him. He told Itatiaia he wanted to return to Belo Horizonte in 2027 to visit friends.
Following the publicity, Belo Horizonte’s city administration warned residents about AI-generated images, videos and conversations.
CNN Brasil reported on October 14 that civil police had not received a formal complaint about the case at that time.
