Key points
- Edimar Rocha Martins traveled 2,000 km after believing an AI influencer invited him to live on her farm.
- The account operator claims the character was created for engagement and affiliate sales, not personal interaction.
- Police have not yet determined if a crime occurred, though Martins required assistance to return home.
A 49-year-old man traveled 2,000 kilometers by bus across Brazil to meet an online influencer who did not exist. Edimar Rocha Martins, a bricklayer from Imperatriz, sold his personal belongings to fund the trip after believing he had formed a genuine romantic connection with “Jéssica,” a woman he thought lived on a farm near Belo Horizonte. The incident illustrates how artificial intelligence can create convincing fictional personas that exploit human loneliness and trust in digital spaces.
How it unfolded
- Martins began communicating with the persona, known as Jéssica Fazendeira, online in 2020, though the account operator claims the character was created in 2025.
- The persona posted a video inviting a man to live with her on her farm and offering to pay for his travel expenses.
- After selling his possessions, Martins traveled to Belo Horizonte but could not find the woman, prompting him to seek help from a local radio station.
- Radio staff informed him that Jéssica was an AI-generated character, leaving him stranded without funds for a return ticket.
- The city’s migrant assistance service provided food and a bus ticket to Augustinópolis, allowing him to eventually return to his home in Imperatriz.
Who is affected
Martins reported struggling with loneliness following the death of his mother, which may have made him vulnerable to the persona’s invitations. The account administrator, speaking through the TikTok profile, stated that the character was designed to drive engagement and promote products via affiliate links. They denied ever sending private messages to Martins or inviting anyone to travel to Belo Horizonte. The operator claimed the profile was largely abandoned and that the AI character itself repeatedly warned viewers of its fictional nature.
What happens next
Police stated they could not immediately determine whether a crime had been committed. The TikTok account has been reactivated with videos labeled as AI-generated, linking to an Instagram account with similar disclosures. These current labels do not clarify what Martins saw before his trip. The operator told reporters they did not know if others had reused the character’s content. This case follows a similar report in June involving a 72-year-old man who traveled 4,000 km to Belo Horizonte for a job offer from a similar online persona.
The background in plain language
Parasocial relationships occur when viewers feel a personal bond with a media figure who does not know them. Social media platforms amplify this by allowing constant interaction. AI-generated personas complicate this dynamic by creating entirely fictional individuals who can mimic human emotion and response patterns. Teams usually monitor for inconsistencies in digital identities, such as lack of real-world verification or repetitive scripted behaviors. Check whether online interactions feel unusually perfect or one-sided. Be cautious of requests for travel, money, or personal data from people you have not met in person.
What to do and how to stay safe: AI influencers
- Verify the identity of online contacts through multiple independent channels before engaging in significant personal or financial commitments.
- Look for official AI disclosure labels on social media profiles, but remember these can be added after initial interactions.
- Be skeptical of unsolicited invitations to travel or meet in person, especially from accounts with high follower counts but no verifiable real-world presence.
- Report suspicious accounts to platform moderators and local authorities if you suspect fraud or exploitation.
Step-by-step guide: Injection attacks examples: how prompt leaks break AI systems
General security guidance from the Circuit Observer newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
Did the AI influencer know she was fictional?
The account operator claims the character was created for engagement and affiliate sales, and that the AI itself warned viewers it was not real.
Was a crime committed in this case?
Police stated they could not establish at that stage whether a crime had occurred.
Have other people been affected by similar scams?
Yes, a 72-year-old man traveled 4,000 km to Belo Horizonte in June for a job offer from a similar online persona.
