A 49-year-old Brazilian bricklayer believed an online relationship could offer him the fresh start he desperately wanted. After following a woman’s social media profile for years, he made a life-changing decision: sell his belongings, leave his hometown and travel more than 2,000 kilometres in the hope of finally meeting her.
But when Edimar Rocha Martins arrived in Belo Horizonte on October 11, 2026, the reunion he had imagined took an unexpected turn. The woman he had travelled so far to find was not a real person in the way he had believed. She was an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated character, and the person behind the account denied ever communicating with him directly.
Who Is Edimar Martins, the Brazilian Bricklayer Who Travelled 2,100 Kilometres?
Edimar Rocha Martins is a 49-year-old bricklayer from Imperatriz, in Brazil’s northeastern state of Maranhão. According to Brazilian media reports, he had followed an online profile featuring a woman named Jéssica Oliveira, also known as Jéssica Fazendeira, since 2020.
The profile portrayed a blonde woman living on a farm who was supposedly looking for a romantic partner. Her videos featured messages about companionship, living together and offering financial support to a future partner.
Martins believed the woman was real and that their online interactions might lead to a relationship. Reports said he engaged with the profile through platforms including Kwai and Facebook, where he believed he was receiving responses and invitations to move to Minas Gerais.
For Martins, the prospect represented more than romance. He was unhappy with his circumstances in Imperatriz and wanted to begin a new chapter of his life, particularly after his mother’s death.
Explaining his decision to pursue the relationship, he told Brazilian media:
“Às vezes, uma solidão dentro de casa acaba trazendo muito transtorno na vida da gente. Por isso que eu vim atrás dela.”
Translated into English, Martins said that sometimes loneliness at home can bring considerable difficulties into a person’s life, which was why he had gone looking for her.
That desire for companionship would ultimately lead him on a journey with consequences he had not anticipated.
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He Sold His Belongings to Travel From Maranhão to Belo Horizonte
On October 9, 2026, Martins set off from Imperatriz for Belo Horizonte, travelling approximately 2,100 kilometres by bus. The journey reportedly took more than 36 hours.
To pay for it, he sold his personal belongings, believing he was heading towards a possible future with someone who had expressed interest in having him join her on a farm.
Speaking to TV Mirante, Martins described the sacrifice he had made:
“I sold all my things, I got rid of everything,” he said. “That’s how you get discouraged, who wouldn’t get discouraged?”
The decision left him with limited resources and made the outcome especially difficult. He had given up his possessions in the expectation that he would meet a potential partner and start a different life.
The profile’s videos appeared to support that hope. In content quoted by the New York Post, the AI-generated character made an offer that suggested a comfortable future together.
“I really want to support you, I want you to come to my farm and never work again in your life,” the AI-created persona said.
Other videos reportedly portrayed Jéssica as a widow looking for companionship and someone with whom she could move forward.
To Martins, the content appeared to describe a genuine romantic opportunity. However, the videos did not establish that a real woman intended to provide him with a home, financial support or a relationship.
What Happened When Edimar Martins Arrived in Belo Horizonte?
Martins reached Belo Horizonte on October 11, expecting to meet the woman he believed he had been communicating with online.
But he had no confirmed meeting arranged with her and no verified address where he could find her. After arriving, he tried to obtain information about her whereabouts and sought assistance from a local radio station.
According to Brazilian reports, he spoke to a reporter from Rádio Itatiaia, asking for help contacting Jéssica and letting her know he had reached the city.
Instead of the meeting he had anticipated, Martins discovered that the woman featured in the videos was an AI-generated character.
Recalling the moment in the New York Post’s report, he said:
“I went to the radio station there, and they said no, that’s fake news, that woman doesn’t exist.”
The revelation shattered his expectation of meeting the woman. The profile’s images and videos had depicted a fictional persona rather than the real-life romantic partner he thought he was travelling to see.
The incident also exposed an important distinction: interacting with an online profile does not necessarily mean a real person is personally communicating with the user. A convincing character can create a sense of familiarity without establishing that the individual depicted exists.
The AI-Generated Woman Had More Than 300,000 TikTok Followers
The profile featuring Jéssica Oliveira, also known as Jéssica Fazendeira, reportedly attracted more than 300,000 followers on TikTok, with content also circulating on other platforms.
Its videos combined romantic storytelling with images of rural life, portraying Jéssica as a farm owner looking for a partner. Some included promises of financial support and invitations for a man to move to her property.
One statement reported by Brazilian outlet UOL read:
“Eu quero que você venha pra cá pra viver vida de rei. Olha o tamanho dessa fazenda que vai ser sua.”
The English translation is: “I want you to come here to live like a king. Look at the size of this farm that will be yours.”
The profile also promoted products, connecting its audience and engagement to commercial activity.
Its large following, however, did not establish that Jéssica was a real woman or that she was available to form personal relationships with followers. The account’s popularity reflected the reach of its content, not the authenticity of the character.
Account Operator Admits Jéssica Was Created Using AI
After Martins’ journey attracted widespread attention, the person behind the profile posted a video acknowledging that Jéssica was generated using artificial intelligence.
The operator’s identity was not publicly disclosed in the reporting. They denied having direct conversations with Martins and disputed the suggestion that the account had personally invited him to Belo Horizonte.
In a statement quoted by the New York Post, the character said:
“I came here to state the obvious: I am made of artificial intelligence,” the made-up woman said. “I have never spoken to anyone with this profile. The intention was to gain engagement for sale.
“I never spoke directly to anyone, much less took anyone to Belo Horizonte. It was a surprise to me to see what is happening.”
The operator also published a statement in Portuguese:
“ESTOU VINDO AQUI FALAR QUE ESSE PERFIL NUNCA CONVERSOU COM NINGUÉM, QUEM FALAR ISSO ESTA MENTINDO! ESSE PERFIL ESTA PRATICAMENTE ABANDONADO, ELE FOI CRIADO COM INTUITO DE SER MONETIZADO NO TIKTOK E VENDER NO TIKTOK SHOP, A FORMA QUE FOI FALADA É RPA GANHAR ENGAJAMENTO, PORÉM, NUNCA NINGUEM DESSE PERFIL CONVERSOU COM ALGUÉM!”
UOL separately reported the operator’s explanation:
“Sou feita de inteligência artificial. Nunca conversei com ninguém nesse perfil. O intuito foi ganhar engajamento para vendas.”
Translated into English, this means: “I am made of artificial intelligence. I have never spoken to anyone on this profile. The intention was to generate engagement for sales.”
The operator reportedly said the profile was practically abandoned and that the attention surrounding Martins’ journey came as a surprise.
The accounts of what happened remain different. Martins described online interactions that convinced him to travel, while the operator denied direct communication. The available reporting does not independently resolve that disagreement.
The Creator Says the Profile Was Designed to Generate Sales
Further reporting by Brazilian outlet Imirante, citing an interview with g1 Minas Gerais, offered more information about the profile’s commercial purpose.
The creator reportedly said Jéssica was created in 2025 to attract an audience, promote products and generate income through online platforms. The videos were intended to capture users’ attention and direct them towards sales.
UOL reported that some content promoted products sold through Mercado Livre, while the operator’s statement referred to TikTok Shop. The account therefore combined an AI-generated personality with product promotion and online marketing.
The creator maintained that the profile was not intended to establish personal relationships and denied communicating privately with Martins. They also said the account had stopped generating income and was practically abandoned before the story attracted widespread attention.
According to Imirante, the creator described feeling afraid following the publicity.
The available reporting does not establish that the profile was specifically created to defraud Martins or that its operator deliberately planned for him to travel to Belo Horizonte.
Jéssica Fazendeira Profile Disappears After the Controversy
On October 15, Imirante reported that the Jéssica Fazendeira account was no longer available on social media.
It was unclear whether the account had been removed by its administrators or taken down following complaints or other action. The available reports did not establish a definitive reason for its disappearance.
The timing drew further attention to the incident, but the account becoming unavailable does not, by itself, prove that it was removed for fraud or that a platform had confirmed a violation of its rules.
Martins Runs Out of Money and Receives Help to Return
After failing to find the woman and exhausting his available funds, Martins needed assistance to leave Belo Horizonte.
He approached the city’s Unidade de Acolhimento e Atendimento ao Migrante, a municipal service that assists people who need support while away from their home communities.
According to UOL and CNN Brasil, the service provided guidance about risks associated with online deception, along with access to basic assistance, including food and personal hygiene facilities.
The city also arranged a bus ticket for Martins to travel to Augustinópolis, in the state of Tocantins, where he was born. He left Belo Horizonte on October 13.
Subsequent reporting said he returned to Imperatriz and stayed with relatives. The assistance was significant because he had sold his belongings to finance the original journey and no longer had enough resources to make his way back independently.
Was the AI-Generated Woman Case a Confirmed Criminal Scam?
Although the incident has been described as online deception, the available reporting distinguishes between a misleading impression and a legally established offence.
The profile used an AI-generated character, published romantic content and promoted products. Martins believed he had a personal connection with the woman and travelled to meet her. However, the operator denied direct communication, and the reporting did not establish that they personally solicited money from Martins, received payment from him or deliberately arranged his journey.
Imirante, citing g1 Minas Gerais, reported that the Minas Gerais Civil Police had indicated that creating fictional AI characters does not, by itself, constitute a criminal offence. Reports also said no police complaint concerning the incident had been registered at the time of publication.
That does not mean every possible use of a synthetic identity is lawful. It means this particular incident should not be described as proven criminal fraud without evidence establishing that conclusion.
Edimar Martins Says He Still Wants to Find Love
Despite the disappointment and financial consequences, Martins has said he remains hopeful about finding a partner.
In comments reported by the New York Post, he said:
“I didn’t find her, but I’ll find another one, and it will be in the same place I went, and I’ll go again,” Martins said.
Imirante reported on October 16 that Martins was staying with relatives in Imperatriz and still intended to return to Belo Horizonte to seek a new relationship. He had not announced a confirmed date for another trip.
There is no confirmed evidence that he has arranged another journey or met a new partner since the incident.
Conclusion: A Costly Journey Fueled by a Fictional Online Identity
Edimar Rocha Martins sold his belongings and travelled more than 2,000 kilometres because he believed an online woman might offer him companionship and a new life. Instead, he discovered that Jéssica Fazendeira was an AI-generated character and needed municipal assistance after running out of money.
The account operator said the profile had been created to generate engagement and sales, while denying direct communication with Martins. The disagreement over their online interactions remains unresolved, and the available reporting does not establish a criminal offence.
The case highlights the importance of checking online identities before making major travel, financial or relationship decisions. A popular profile can feature a fictional character, and convincing videos are not proof of a genuine personal connection.
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Source and Research Disclaimer
This article has been prepared using the published reports and source material listed below, including coverage from the New York Post, UOL Notícias, CNN Brasil and Imirante. Statements and disputed claims have been attributed to the sources or individuals who made them. The article reflects the information available in those reports and does not imply independent verification beyond the supplied material.
Sources
- New York Post: Brazilian bricklayer’s dream girl turns out to be AI-generated
- UOL Notícias: Man travels from Maranhão to Minas Gerais to meet a woman, but discovers she was AI
- UOL Notícias: AI-generated woman denies speaking to man who travelled 2,100 kilometres to meet her
- CNN Brasil: Bricklayer travels more than 2,000 kilometres to find AI-generated woman
- Imirante: Creator of AI character says the purpose was to generate sales
- Imirante: Jéssica Fazendeira profile goes offline
- Imirante: Bricklayer who sold everything says he wants to seek love again
Featured Image: Image Credit: cottonbro studio / Pexels
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