At 194 years old, Jonathan the tortoise has survived world wars, eight British monarchs, and more than 40 U.S. presidents. But this week, the world’s oldest known land animal added something else to that list: becoming the target of a viral crypto death scam.
According to The Guardian, the false report began circulating after an X account posing as Jonathan’s longtime veterinarian, Joe Hollins, claimed the tortoise had died on the island of Saint Helena.
The post quickly spread across social media and was picked up by several major outlets before being debunked.
The fake account also included requests for cryptocurrency donations, turning the story into a full-scale online scam rather than a simple hoax.
The fraudulent post claimed Jonathan had “passed away peacefully” and described years of caring for him, including hand-feeding him bananas and watching him bask in the sun.
But Hollins, who does not actually use X, said the account was fake and that Jonathan is alive and well. “Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive,” Hollins said. “I believe on X, the person purporting to be me is asking for crypto donations, so it’s not even an April Fool’s joke. It’s a con.”
Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise who has lived on the grounds of Plantation House, the governor’s mansion on Saint Helena, since 1882. Experts believe he was already around 50 years old when he arrived, suggesting he was born around 1832.
He was alive when Queen Victoria was crowned and later met Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the island as a princess in 1947. Jonathan has even appeared on the reverse side of Saint Helena’s 5-pence coin.
When the false reports began spreading, Saint Helena governor Nigel Phillips went outside late at night to check on the tortoise himself. “Jonathan is asleep under a tree in the paddock,” Phillips said.
The following morning, the governor’s staff photographed Jonathan beside an iPad displaying a BBC story about his supposed death as proof that he was still alive.
Phillips later joked that Jonathan had issued his own statement: “The report of my death was an exaggeration … Mark Twain, not Oscar Wilde.”
The incident highlights a growing form of online fraud known as a crypto death hoax. In these scams, fake accounts impersonate trusted people and spread fabricated death announcements in order to solicit cryptocurrency donations or drive interest in a digital token.
The tactic relies on emotional reactions and the speed of social media before facts can be verified. Similar schemes have previously targeted high-profile figures in the crypto industry, but Jonathan may be the first tortoise to become part of the trend.
