TLDR
- Fraudulent X profile impersonating Jonathan the tortoise’s veterinarian declared his passing
- Major publications including BBC, Daily Mail, and USA Today fell victim to the misinformation, which garnered 2 million views
- Scammers used the platform to request cryptocurrency payments throughout the deception
- Saint Helena’s governor personally verified Jonathan’s wellbeing after midnight
- Cryptocurrency fraud reached unprecedented levels in 2025, totaling $17 billion in stolen funds
An elaborate social media deception declaring the demise of Earth’s oldest known terrestrial animal evolved into a digital currency scam that successfully misled prominent international news organizations.
Jonathan the Tortoise is alive and well š¢
ā¢ Heās ~193 years old ā the longest-living land animal on Earth
ā¢ A suspected crypto scammer went viral on April Fools Day pretending to be his vet
(via @BritishOverseas) pic.twitter.com/YiV4ZNK7i0
ā Culture Crave šæ (@CultureCrave) April 1, 2026
The subject of the hoax, Jonathanāa 194-year-old Seychelles giant tortoise residing on Saint Helena islandāwas incorrectly proclaimed deceased this week following a fraudulent X profile’s distribution of the false narrative to countless users.
The deceptive profile adopted the identity of Joe Hollins, Jonathan’s actual veterinary caregiver, expressing supposed grief while announcing the tortoise had “passed away peacefully.”
Within hours, the fabricated announcement accumulated two million impressions. Respected outlets including the BBC, Daily Mail, and USA Today proceeded to publish obituaries based solely on the fraudulent account’s claims.
The critical flaw: the authentic Joe Hollins maintains no presence on X whatsoever. He subsequently verified that the announcement was entirely fictitious.
“Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive,” Hollins told USA Today. “I believe on X the person purporting to be me is asking for crypto donations… it’s a con.”
Further investigation revealed the counterfeit profile originated from Brazil rather than Saint Helena.
How the Truth Came Out
Nigel Phillips, Saint Helena’s governor, was preparing to retire for the evening when inquiries began arriving from across the globe. He ventured outdoors well past nightfall to personally inspect the tortoise’s condition.
Jonathan the Giant Tortoise’s death has been revealed to be a hoax, and the big guy is alive and well at the age of 193.
A crypto scammer created an account impersonating his caretaker and spread misinformation to several media outlets. pic.twitter.com/ybEonk8fDJ
ā Pubity (@pubity) April 1, 2026
Phillips discovered Jonathan in his typical locationāresting beneath a tree within his enclosure.
“Jonathan is asleep under a tree in the paddock,” Phillips told The Guardian. He verified the animal was “very much alive.”
Come Thursday morning, Phillips addressed the situation with humor on social platforms, referencing Mark Twain by stating the “report of my death was an exaggeration.”
The Friends of the British Overseas Territories published an official statement highlighting that the suspicious account had recently modified its username while actively soliciting cryptocurrency contributions.
Guinness World Records acknowledged the resolution with a relieved “phew.”
Jonathan’s Condition
Beyond the digital mayhem, Jonathan maintains reasonable health given his advanced years. While cataracts have rendered him sightless and his olfactory capabilities have diminished, his appetite and mobility remain strong.
His residence at Plantation House, serving as the governor’s official dwelling, includes three companion tortoises: Emma, David, and Fredrik.
Jonathan’s extraordinary lifespan encompasses eight British monarchs, two global conflicts, and the complete emergence of modern technology.
Publications that initially reported his passing have subsequently issued corrections and retractions.
This deception represents a broader pattern of cryptocurrency fraud employing identity theft strategies. Blockchain intelligence provider Chainalysis documented that cryptocurrency scam damages reached an unprecedented $17 billion throughout 2025.
Individual scam transactions increased 253% to an average of $2,764, fueled by artificial intelligence-enhanced impersonation techniques and progressively advanced criminal networks.
