🚨 Viral Facebook Post About “Deputy Tyler Cooper” and Rescued Child is a Hoax
If you’ve seen emotional posts circulating on Facebook about a bruised child found by “Deputy Tyler Cooper,” you’re not alone — and it’s not true.
These viral posts, often shared in large community groups, show photos of an injured child and claim he was discovered alone by a heroic deputy who’s now searching for the child’s family. The posts urge people to “flood feeds” to help, pulling at heartstrings to prompt quick shares.
But authorities have confirmed: none of it happened.
📢 Police Confirm It’s Fake
- West Mercia Police (UK) publicly stated that no such incident occurred in Hereford, and there is no officer named Tyler Cooper in their department.
- Norfolk Constabulary also debunked the claim, confirming it didn’t happen in King’s Lynn, and noting that “deputy” is not even a rank used in their force.
These details strongly suggest that the post is fabricated from start to finish.
💻 The Bigger Problem: Scam-Edited Posts
This post isn’t just a one-off lie—it’s part of a broader Facebook trend where fake emotional stories are spread widely, and then the original text is later edited to promote shady products or scams. This can include:
- Suspicious cashback websites
- Fake real estate offers
- Affiliate links that benefit the poster financially
⚠️ How to Stay Safe and Spot the Hoax
Before sharing emotional viral posts:
- Check if the event is reported by real news outlets or local police
- Look for duplicate versions of the same post from different regions
- Be cautious of posts with comments disabled
- Watch for edits after the post gains traction
These manipulative tactics exploit people’s compassion to drive traffic to scams, all while flooding your feed with misinformation.
👉 Stay informed. Share responsibly. Don’t let scammers turn your good intentions into free advertising.