Jonathan the Tortoise Falls Victim to Viral Crypto Death Scam

AI Summary

A fake news report on social media claimed that Jonathan, the 194-year-old giant tortoise and world's oldest living land animal, had died. The report was spread by an impersonator on X, who asked for crypto donations. The real vet, Joe Hollins, confirmed that Jonathan is alive and well.

Jonathan, the world's oldest living land animal, a 194-year-old giant tortoise, was recently caught in a viral crypto death scam. A fake social media post claiming his death was shared on X, garnering 2 million views and reported as fact by several news outlets, including the BBC.

The post, attributed to an impersonator of Jonathan's vet, Joe Hollins, announced the tortoise's 'passing' and requested crypto donations. However, Hollins confirmed that Jonathan is very much alive and that the impersonator was based in Brazil.

Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, has lived on Saint Helena since 1882. He resides on the grounds of the governor's mansion and has become a local celebrity, even appearing on the reverse of St Helena's 5p coin.

Despite being blind from cataracts and having lost his sense of smell, Jonathan remains in good health with a strong appetite for bananas. The governor of Saint Helena, Nigel Phillips, shared a photo of Jonathan with an iPad displaying the BBC homepage as proof of life.

The scam has caused concern in the small island community of approximately 4,440 people, highlighting the vulnerability of public figures, even those as long-lived as Jonathan, to crypto scams and misinformation.