Key Points
- Fraudulent social media profile impersonated Jonathan’s veterinarian to announce fabricated death
- International media including BBC, USA Today, and Daily Mail published the false story after 2 million views
- Scammers requested cryptocurrency contributions throughout the deceptive campaign
- Saint Helena’s governor personally verified Jonathan’s wellbeing during nighttime inspection
- Cryptocurrency fraud reached unprecedented $17 billion in 2025, marking worst year recorded
An elaborate cryptocurrency fraud operation exploited the world’s most famous elderly animal, creating a fabricated death announcement that deceived prominent international media 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, the celebrated 194-year-old Seychelles giant tortoise residing on Saint Helena island, became the unwitting centerpiece of a sophisticated scam when fraudsters circulated false reports of his demise this week across social platforms.
The fraudulent profile adopted the identity and credentials of Joe Hollins, Jonathan’s legitimate veterinary caretaker. The fabricated message expressed deep sadness while announcing Jonathan had “passed away peacefully.”
Within hours, the deceptive announcement accumulated two million impressions. International news organizations including the BBC, Daily Mail, and USA Today subsequently published obituaries citing the fraudulent account as their source.
The reality: the authentic Joe Hollins maintains no presence on X whatsoever. He subsequently verified the announcement was entirely fictitious.
“Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive,” Hollins confirmed to USA Today. “I believe on X the person purporting to be me is asking for crypto donations… it’s a con.”
Investigation revealed the deceptive profile originated from Brazil rather than Saint Helena.
Governor’s Midnight Verification
Nigel Phillips, Saint Helena’s governor, received numerous international inquiries as he prepared to retire for the evening. He personally conducted a nighttime inspection to verify the tortoise’s status.
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 anticipated — resting beneath his preferred tree within the paddock enclosure.
“Jonathan is asleep under a tree in the paddock,” Phillips reported to The Guardian. He emphasized the animal remained “very much alive.”
Thursday morning brought levity as Phillips referenced the situation humorously online. Channeling Mark Twain, he noted the “report of my death was an exaggeration.”
The Friends of the British Overseas Territories published a clarification statement highlighting that the fraudulent profile had modified its username recently while aggressively requesting cryptocurrency transfers.
Guinness World Records acknowledged the resolution with relieved brevity: “phew.”
Jonathan’s Current Status
Beyond the digital turmoil, Jonathan maintains solid health considering his advanced years. Though vision impairment from cataracts and olfactory loss affect him, his appetite and mobility remain consistent.
His residence at Plantation House, the gubernatorial estate, includes three companion tortoises: Emma, David, and Fredrik.
Jonathan’s remarkable lifespan encompasses eight British sovereigns, both global conflicts of the twentieth century, and the complete digital revolution.
News organizations that circulated the false reports have issued corrections and retractions.
This deception represents broader patterns in cryptocurrency fraud utilizing identity theft strategies. Blockchain analytics company Chainalysis documented unprecedented crypto scam damages totaling $17 billion throughout 2025.
Individual scam transaction values increased 253% to average $2,764, facilitated by artificial intelligence-enhanced impersonation techniques and progressively advanced criminal operations.
