Key Points
- An imposter X account impersonated Jonathan the tortoise’s veterinarian and falsely declared his death
- Major news organizations including the BBC, Daily Mail, and USA Today reported the story, which garnered 2 million views
- The fraudulent account requested cryptocurrency contributions as part of the deception
- Saint Helena’s governor personally verified Jonathan was alive by checking on him at night
- Cryptocurrency scams reached an unprecedented $17 billion in losses during 2025
A fraudulent social media announcement declaring the death of the planet’s oldest living terrestrial animal evolved into a cryptocurrency deception that misled several prominent international media organizations.
Jonathan, a 194-year-old Seychelles giant tortoise residing on Saint Helena island, became the subject of false death reports this week following a deceptive X account that circulated the fabricated news to millions.
The fraudulent profile assumed the identity of Joe Hollins, Jonathan’s actual veterinarian. The account expressed being “heartbroken” while announcing that Jonathan had “passed away peacefully.”
The message rapidly accumulated two million impressions. International publications including the BBC, Daily Mail, and USA Today proceeded to publish obituaries based on the fraudulent announcement.
The reality: the authentic Joe Hollins maintains no X account whatsoever. He verified that the announcement was entirely falsified.
“Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive,” Hollins informed USA Today. “I believe on X the person purporting to be me is asking for crypto donations… it’s a con.”
Investigative analysis revealed the deceptive account originated from Brazil rather than Saint Helena.
Verification of Jonathan’s Survival
Nigel Phillips, Saint Helena’s governor, was preparing to retire for the evening when inquiries began arriving from across the globe. He personally ventured outside during nighttime hours to examine the tortoise’s condition.
He discovered Jonathan precisely in his expected location — resting beneath a tree within his enclosure.
“Jonathan is asleep under a tree in the paddock,” Phillips informed The Guardian. He verified the creature was “very much alive.”
By the following 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 a statement highlighting that the account had recently modified its username while actively requesting cryptocurrency contributions.
Guinness World Records acknowledged the clarification with a relieved “phew.”
Jonathan’s Current Health Status
Despite the digital turmoil, Jonathan maintains good health considering his advanced age. He experiences blindness due to cataracts and has diminished olfactory function, yet continues eating properly and remaining physically active.
He resides at Plantation House, the governor’s official residence, alongside three companion tortoises named Emma, David, and Fredrik.
Jonathan’s lifespan encompasses eight British monarchs, both global conflicts of the twentieth century, and the complete emergence of the information age.
The news organizations that published the erroneous death announcements have subsequently withdrawn their coverage.
This deception represents a broader pattern of cryptocurrency fraud employing impersonation strategies. Blockchain intelligence company Chainalysis reported that cryptocurrency scam damages reached an all-time high of $17 billion throughout 2025.
The typical fraudulent transaction increased by 253% to $2,764, propelled by artificial intelligence-enhanced impersonation techniques and progressively advanced criminal operations.
