TLDR
- An imposter X account masqueraded as Jonathan the tortoise’s veterinarian and falsely declared his passing
- Major media organizations including the BBC, Daily Mail, and USA Today fell for the deception, with the post garnering 2 million impressions
- Cryptocurrency donations were being requested through the fraudulent account
- Saint Helena’s governor personally verified Jonathan’s well-being during a late-night check
- Cryptocurrency scam losses reached an unprecedented $17 billion in 2025
An elaborate cryptocurrency fraud scheme exploited the world’s oldest living terrestrial animal through a fabricated death announcement that successfully deceived numerous 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, a Seychelles giant tortoise aged 194 years and residing on Saint Helena island, became the unwitting subject of a widespread hoax this week when a counterfeit X profile disseminated false information about his demise to millions of users.
The fraudulent profile appropriated the identity of Joe Hollins, Jonathan’s actual veterinary caretaker. The impersonator posted an emotionally charged message expressing sorrow over Jonathan’s supposed “peaceful passing.”
Within hours, the deceptive announcement accumulated two million impressions. Prominent publications including the BBC, Daily Mail, and USA Today proceeded to publish obituaries based solely on this unverified source.
The reality: Joe Hollins maintains no presence on X whatsoever. He personally debunked the fraudulent announcement.
“Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive,” Hollins stated to 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 imposter account originated from Brazil rather than Saint Helena.
How the Truth Came Out
Nigel Phillips, governor of Saint Helena, received a wave of international inquiries just as he prepared to retire for the evening. He personally ventured outdoors late at night to physically confirm 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 resting peacefully beneath a tree in his enclosure, exactly as expected.
“Jonathan is asleep under a tree in the paddock,” Phillips informed The Guardian. He confirmed unequivocally that the animal was “very much alive.”
The following morning, Phillips addressed the situation with humor on social platforms. He referenced Mark Twain’s famous quip that the “report of my death was an exaggeration.”
The Friends of the British Overseas Territories published a clarification online, highlighting that the fraudulent profile had recently modified its handle and was aggressively requesting cryptocurrency contributions.
Guinness World Records responded to the clarification with a relieved “phew.”
Jonathan’s Condition
Notwithstanding the digital pandemonium, Jonathan maintains remarkably good health given his advanced years. While cataracts have rendered him sightless and his olfactory senses have diminished, his appetite remains robust and he continues regular activity.
He resides at Plantation House, the official governor’s residence, alongside three companion tortoises: Emma, David, and Fredrik.
Jonathan’s extraordinary lifespan encompasses eight British monarchs, both world wars, and the complete evolution of the digital era.
Publications that initially reported his death have subsequently issued corrections and retractions.
This deception exemplifies the expanding problem of cryptocurrency fraud utilizing identity theft methodologies. Blockchain intelligence company Chainalysis documented that cryptocurrency scam losses surged to an all-time high of $17 billion throughout 2025.
Individual scam transactions increased by 253% to an average of $2,764, facilitated by artificial intelligence-enhanced impersonation techniques and progressively elaborate criminal operations.
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