Britain02 April, 20261 min read
Cryptocurrency Scam Claims World's Oldest Tortoise Jonathan Has Died
A death claim circulated on X as a cryptocurrency scam impersonating the tortoise's vet. Jonathan remains alive on St Helena; veterinarian Joe Hollins confirmed he is very much alive.
Crypto Scam Fakes Jonathan's Death
A fake X account impersonating Jonathan's veterinarian posted that he had died at age 193.
The post went viral and was reported as fact by major outlets including the BBC and The Guardian.
Hollins confirmed he does not have an X account and described the post as a hoax soliciting crypto donations.
The St. Helena government confirmed Jonathan was very much alive and issued a photo.
Jonathan's Long Life on St. Helena
Jonathan has lived on St. Helena since 1882, making him roughly 50 years old when he arrived.
He has survived eight British monarchs and became a beloved island icon.
His assigned official birthday is December 4.
Media Apologies and Corrected Reports
Several outlets issued corrections after reporting Jonathan's death based on the fake post.
The Guardian revealed the fake account was based in Brazil, not St. Helena.
This episode highlighted vulnerabilities in verification processes on social media.