TLDR
- An imposter X account masqueraded as Jonathan the tortoise’s veterinarian to announce a fabricated death
- Major publications including BBC, Daily Mail, and USA Today fell for the deception, which garnered 2 million views
- Cryptocurrency donations were being requested through the fraudulent account
- The governor of Saint Helena personally verified Jonathan was alive during a nighttime check
- Cryptocurrency scam losses reached an unprecedented $17 billion in 2025
An elaborate social media hoax declaring the death of the planet’s oldest living terrestrial animal transformed into a cryptocurrency fraud scheme that managed to deceive numerous prominent international news organizations.
Jonathan the Tortoise is alive and well
• He’s ~193 years old — the longest-living land animal on Earth
• A suspected crypto scammer went viral on April Fools Day pretending to be his vet
(via @BritishOverseas) pic.twitter.com/YiV4ZNK7i0
— Culture Crave
(@CultureCrave) April 1, 2026
Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise aged 194 years who resides on Saint Helena island, became the subject of false death reports earlier this week following a deceptive X account that disseminated the fabricated news to millions of users.
The fraudulent profile adopted the name and credentials of Joe Hollins, Jonathan’s actual veterinary doctor. The account expressed being “heartbroken” while announcing that Jonathan had “passed away peacefully.”
Within a short timeframe, the message accumulated two million impressions. Multiple prestigious news organizations, including the BBC, Daily Mail, and USA Today, ran articles declaring Jonathan’s demise based solely on this account’s claims.
The reality: the authentic Joe Hollins maintains no presence on X whatsoever. He verified that the announcement was entirely fraudulent.
“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.”
Investigation revealed the counterfeit account 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 international messages began pouring in. He personally ventured outside during nighttime hours to inspect the tortoise’s condition firsthand.
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
— Pubity (@pubity) April 1, 2026
Phillips discovered Jonathan precisely where expected — resting 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.”
The following Thursday morning, Phillips addressed the situation with humor on social platforms. He referenced Mark Twain, stating the “report of my death was an exaggeration.”
The Friends of the British Overseas Territories published an official statement highlighting that the fraudulent account had recently modified its username while actively requesting cryptocurrency contributions.
Guinness World Records acknowledged the news with a relieved “phew.”
Jonathan’s Condition
Notwithstanding the digital commotion, Jonathan maintains excellent health considering his advanced age. While he has experienced vision loss due to cataracts and no longer possesses his olfactory sense, his appetite remains robust and he continues to be physically active.
His residence at Plantation House, which serves as the governor’s official home, is shared with three companion tortoises: Emma, David, and Fredrik.
Throughout his remarkable lifespan, Jonathan has witnessed eight British monarchs, survived two global conflicts, and experienced the complete evolution of the digital era.
News organizations that initially published the death reports have subsequently issued retractions.
This deception represents a broader pattern of cryptocurrency fraud employing impersonation strategies. Blockchain analytics company Chainalysis documented that crypto scam losses achieved a record-breaking $17 billion throughout 2025.
Individual scam payments surged by 253% to an average of $2,764, fueled by artificial intelligence-enhanced impersonation techniques and progressively sophisticated criminal operations.
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