Edimar Rocha Martins, a 49-year-old worker in construction, undertook a remarkable journey of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) to meet a woman he believed he had been in conversation with for six years. The bus ride lasted nearly two days. The woman, who claimed to be a social media influencer with a following of 300,000, presented herself as divorced and in search of a partner to share her life on a farm while offering financial support. After years of exchanging messages, Martins decided to sell all his possessions and traveled to another state to meet her. He stated that she never requested money from him and even offered to cover his travel expenses, which left him with no doubts about her intentions. However, after fruitlessly searching for her, he came to the shocking realization that the woman did not exist. The creator of the AI persona acknowledged that the profile was intended to attract clients but denied ever having direct communication with Martins or encouraging him to visit. They also claimed that the character was only established in 2025, and the account was subsequently removed after the incident gained widespread attention. Despite this experience, Martins expressed that he has no regrets. Local authorities assisted him in returning home, as he had run out of money for a ticket back. Currently, he is staying with family members but harbors dreams of making the trip once again in pursuit of love. "I didn't find her, but I'll find someone else. I'll go back there again," Martins remarked.
Informational material. 18+.
