Bricklayer sells belongings, travels 1,200 miles only to find out online lover was AI-generated
A 49-year-old Brazilian bricklayer has been left heartbroken and stranded after discovering that the woman he travelled 1,200 miles to marry and live with was entirely fictitious and generated by artificial intelligence.
The man, Edimar Rocha Martins, recounted how his online romance began in 2020 when he encountered a social media account belonging to a woman named Jéssica Oliveira, also known online as Jessica Fazendeira.
Driven by loneliness and a desire for companionship, Martins made the drastic decision to leave his life behind in Imperatriz, Maranhão, and journey to Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, where he believed she lived.
Selling everything for an illusion
Trusting the promises made on the viral profile—which boasted around 300,000 followers and featured videos of the AI woman claiming she wanted a partner to live and work on her farm with financial support—Martins took a huge leap of faith.
On October 9, 2026, he liquidated his possessions to fund the long-distance bus ticket.
“I sold all my things; I got rid of everything,” Martins shared.
However, reality crashed down on him when he arrived in Belo Horizonte on October 11.
After fruitlessly searching the city for clues to her whereabouts, local radio station staff informed him that the profile was a hoax.
“I went to the radio station there, and they said no, that’s fake news, that woman doesn’t exist,” he said.
Running out of money and confronting the truth
With his funds completely depleted, Martins sought assistance at Belo Horizonte City Hall, where he explained his predicament to social workers. He revealed that deep-seated loneliness had driven him to make the risky trip.
“It only brings sadness, discouragement, depression. Many people wanted to find a relationship, so I came,” he lamented.
Following the media attention, the creator behind the TikTok account publicly confirmed that the persona was computer-generated, denying any direct communication with Martins:
Creator’s statement: “I came here to state the obvious: I am made of artificial intelligence. I never spoke directly to anyone, much less took anyone to Belo Horizonte.”
Martins is currently staying with a family member as he recovers from the ordeal, though he remains hopeful about finding real companionship in the future.
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