In an era where digital misinformation can travel around the globe before the truth has even woken up, not even a 194-year-old giant tortoise is safe. Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise and the world’s oldest living land animal, became the latest victim of a bizarre and predatory "death hoax" designed to fleece crypto investors.
The chaos erupted on Wednesday when a fake X (formerly Twitter) account posing as Joe Hollins—Jonathan’s long-time veterinarian—announced the tortoise’s passing. The post was masterfully crafted, filled with touching anecdotes about hand-feeding bananas and "quiet wisdom." It garnered over two million views and was picked up as breaking news by major outlets, including the BBC and USA Today.
However, the sentimentality was a smoke screen. While the world mourned, the account was busy soliciting cryptocurrency donations, purportedly for a memorial fund. The real Joe Hollins, who doesn't even use X, was stunned by the audacity. "It’s not even an April Fool joke," Hollins told The Guardian. "It’s a con."
On the remote island of Saint Helena, the hoax triggered a late-night frantic search. Governor Nigel Phillips was forced to head into the paddock at midnight to verify the status of the local celebrity. He found Jonathan exactly where he should be: fast asleep under a tree.
To dispel the rumors the following morning, officials released a "proof of life" photo of Jonathan next to an iPad showing the BBC homepage. Despite being blind and lacking a sense of smell, Jonathan is reportedly in excellent spirits, possessing a "healthy libido" and a penchant for cabbage. While the crypto scammers looked for a quick payday, Jonathan celebrated his "resurrection" the only way a centenarian should—with a double helping of his favorite bananas.
Source: World's oldest tortoise caught in viral crypto death scam | The Guardian