A viral Facebook post shows a bruised child found alone by a supposed “Deputy Tyler Cooper,” urging users to share it widely. But police in the UK have confirmed the story is fake. *“No such incident occurred in Hereford,”* said West Mercia Police, adding there’s no officer by that name. Norfolk Constabulary also confirmed nothing similar happened in King’s Lynn and noted, *“Deputy isn’t even a rank we use.”*
This hoax is part of a growing scam trend. Scammers use emotional, fake stories to go viral, then later edit the posts to promote shady products, websites, or affiliate links for profit.
Typical edits include fake cashback deals, real estate scams, or links to suspicious sites. These posts *“manipulate people’s empathy”* and turn kind intentions into tools for spreading misinformation.
To protect yourself, always check viral posts with trusted news or law enforcement sources. Be wary of stories that resurface in different areas, have disabled comments, or are edited after going viral.
*“Don’t let your compassion be weaponized,”* the article warns. Staying alert can help stop scammers from exploiting good-hearted people online.
