Across Facebook and other social media, a troubling pattern has emerged: emotionally stirring posts claiming that a young child was found wandering alone at night, rescued by a police officer, and now needs help locating their family. One such post, which circulated widely in community groups, asserted that a boy was discovered in Hereford or King’s Lynn and had been saved by a law enforcement officer named “Deputy Tyler Cooper.” The images accompanying these posts purported to show a bruised child, and users were urged to “flood your feeds” to get the story to the child’s family.
But authorities have confirmed that the story is a hoax. West Mercia Police said there is no record of any such incident in Hereford and that no officer named Tyler Cooper is on their force. Similarly, Norfolk Constabulary denied any event of that nature had occurred in King’s Lynn and noted that they do not use a “deputy” rank.
These kinds of hoaxes are not isolated. They exploit emotional reactions, spread rapidly through community groups, and sometimes later get edited to redirect traffic—often to scam websites or real estate listings. Understanding how they work and how to guard against them is increasingly important in our social media age.
Below is a comprehensive exploration: how these posts operate, recent examples and fact checks, the psychology behind sharing, and practical steps you can take to avoid falling victim.
1. Anatomy of the Hoax: What These Posts Claim and How They Spread
Common Features of Child-Rescue Hoaxes
Many of these posts share a common structure and set of tropes. Some recurring elements include:
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Emotional imagery: A photo of a child, often with visible bruises or distressed expression.
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Subliminal urgency: Language like “found last night,” “taken to police station,” “no one knows who the child is.”
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Named rescuer: A law enforcement figure (often fictitious), such as “Deputy Tyler Cooper.”
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Call to action: “Flood your feeds,” “share widely,” “someone must know him.”
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Disabled comments: Many of these posts disable comments to prevent skepticism or fact correction.
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Later edits: After gaining wide circulation, the posts are sometimes edited to include external links (surveys, real estate, cashback sites) or to redirect traffic.
These hoaxes rely on emotional triggers—concern for a child, empathy, urgency—to override skepticism or fact checking. When community groups or local pages pick them up, the reach can become viral overnight.
Examples and Fact Checks
One detailed fact check by Full Fact addressed the exact claim you described: images showing a boy supposedly found walking alone at night in Hereford, rescued by “Deputy Tyler Cooper.” The check found:
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No incident record: West Mercia Police said no such event had been logged.
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No such officer: The name “Tyler Cooper” does not exist in the force.
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No “deputy” rank: The term “deputy” is not used in that police organization.
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Same images used in multiple hoaxes: Versions of the post also appeared claiming the event in King’s Lynn; Norfolk Police denied it.
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Disabling comments: The posts had comments turned off, a red flag used in many similar hoaxes.
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Later edits to promote scams: Full Fact noted these hoaxes sometimes morph into promotional posts for property or cashback sites.
Another Full Fact article revealed that nearly identical posts, using the same photo of a child, have circulated in various UK communities. The reports claimed a toddler was “found” and held at a police station, but multiple police forces confirmed no such case existed.
A related hoax: a post claiming a child wandered in Skegness was found and taken to a station. Lincolnshire Police said no report matched that description. That same image and wording have circulated in other locations with identical structure.
These examples demonstrate that these posts are part of a wider pattern of digital misinformation, not isolated accidents.
2. Why These Hoaxes Work: Psychology, Amplification, and Trust
To understand how they gain traction, we need to consider human psychology, social media dynamics, and information networks.
Emotional Leverage & the Sympathy Trigger
There’s a primal reflex to protect children. When you see a distressed child, your brain naturally raises alarm. Hoaxes exploit this instinct. The emotional weight often bypasses critical thinking. Many people think, “Even if it’s false, sharing may help,” and thus propagate the post without verifying.
Authority Appeal & the “Rescuer” Figure
By inserting an authority figure—“Deputy Tyler Cooper”—the hoax acquires a veneer of legitimacy. People tend to believe stories involving law enforcement, trusting that they’ve been verified. That name, though fictional, helps lower skepticism.
Echo Chambers & Community Groups
These posts often proliferate in local Facebook groups, neighborhood forums, or community pages. Users trust posts in these settings more—they assume local admins or residents would vet them. That trust gives hoaxes fertile ground. Once shared, it crosses into other groups and amplifies.
Disabled Comments as a Filter
Many of these hoax posts disable user comments. This prevents others from pointing out the falsehood or querying sources. Without open discussion, skeptics are muted, and the post appears unchallenged.
The “Backwards Edit” Tactic
Some hoaxes evolve. A post may initially claim a child was found. After going viral, it’s edited to insert a link—perhaps to a property listing, cashback site, survey, or affiliate content. Users who arrive later may miss the original claim and only see the promotional content. These changes can monetize the traffic or lead to scams.
Spread via Social Proof & Herd Behavior
Seeing others share it confers legitimacy. If 100 people in a group share, a newcomer may assume it was fact-checked. The more shares, the more trust builds—regardless of accuracy.
3. The Real-World Consequences of Hoaxes
While they may seem “harmless,” these hoaxes carry real damage across social, civic, and psychological domains.
Wasting Police and Emergency Resources
Even if the incident is false, some people call emergency services to report it. That wastes time and resources, potentially delaying genuine emergencies.
Distracting from Real Cases
Hoaxes divert attention from authentic missing-child cases. Community attention and media coverage may focus on hoaxes while real cases struggle for visibility.
Undermining Trust
When such posts are widely shared and later exposed as false, trust in local community groups, social media feeds, and even genuine rescue appeals is eroded.
Enabling Scams & Malware
Edited hoax posts often redirect users to sites that collect personal data, sell merchandise, require signup for suspicious apps, or promote unscrupulous real estate listings. These are monetization tactics riding on emotional manipulation.
Psychological Impact
For users—especially those prone to anxiety—seeing images of a hurt child can cause distress. Some may experience guilt for not having helped, or cognitive dissonance as they later discover the story was false.
4. Case Study: The Hereford / King’s Lynn “Tyler Cooper” Hoax
To illustrate how a specific incident unfolded, here is a step-by-step breakdown of how the “child rescued by Deputy Tyler Cooper” post evolved—and how authorities responded.
The Original Post
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Local Facebook groups in Hereford posted images of a bruised child accompanied by text claiming the boy was found walking alone, rescued by a “Deputy Tyler Cooper,” and taken to a police station.
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The post urged users to share widely so the child’s family might see it.
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Comments were disabled.
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Shortly after, an almost identical post appeared in groups centered on King’s Lynn, Norfolk, using the same images and narrative.
Authority Response & Fact Checking
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West Mercia Police, responsible for Hereford, confirmed no such incident occurred and that no officer with that name exists.
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Norfolk Constabulary denied any event in King’s Lynn and confirmed the rank of “deputy” is not in their organizational structure.
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Full Fact, a reputable fact-checking organization, labeled the claim “false.”
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The fact that comments were disabled raised a red flag consistent with prior hoaxes.
Spread & Mutation
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After wide sharing, versions of the post began appearing with different names, locations, or dates.
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Some versions included links to external sites, often property advertisements or cashback pages—indicating post hoc monetization.
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Community members who tried commenting saw that comments were blocked—limiting challenge or correction.
Outcome & Lessons
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The hoax was widely debunked, but by then it had traveled across towns and groups.
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It spotlighted how vulnerable local forums are to emotionally manipulative misinformation.
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It reinforced the need for fact-checking, critical awareness, and skepticism in social media sharing.
5. How to Spot These Hoaxes Before Sharing
Being able to recognize and filter out these hoaxes is essential to reduce their spread. Here are practical tips:
| Check | What to Look For | Why It’s Suspicious |
|---|---|---|
| Verify with police or official sources | Search local police force’s website or social media for matching reports | If no record exists, the claim is very likely false |
| Search for similar fact checks | Websites like Full Fact, Snopes, or local news outlets may have already flagged it | Many hoaxes repeat images and narratives |
| Inspect the name/title | E.g. “Deputy Tyler Cooper”—is this name or rank real in that jurisdiction? | One-check may show no such officer |
| Check comments & interactions | If comments are disabled or limited | Disabling speech prevents skepticism |
| Look for post edits or external links | Earlier versions versus later versions may differ | Monetization tactics often occur post-virality |
| Search reverse image | Use Google Image Search or TinEye to see origin of the child’s photo | It may originate from another context or be reused |
| Beware of urgency language | “Flood feeds,” “share immediately,” “must know” | Urgency is designed to bypass scrutiny |
| Look at the origin account | New account, few friends, no history | These are common in fake networks |
By applying these checks rapidly before clicking “share,” you help slow the viral spread of hoaxes.
6. Broader Landscape: Why Child-Rescue Hoaxes Flourish
These posts don’t emerge in a vacuum—they tap into broader trends in misinformation and social media.
Misinformation Ecosystems
Social media platforms have enabled a new class of low-cost disinformation, combining emotional content and rapid sharing into powerful misinformation tools. Many hoaxes are created not by organized actors but by small-scale manipulators seeking traction, clicks, or profit.
Algorithmic Amplification
Algorithms favor engagement. A post that spurs strong emotional reactions—anger, sadness, outrage—gets boosted. Hoaxes about endangered children provoke intense reaction and thus spread widely.
Community-Level Trust
Local groups, which once were valuable community hubs, have become vectors. Because members often know or trust each other, hoaxes slip through internal filters more easily.
The Economics of Attention
For creators of hoaxes, attention is currency. Redirecting that attention to external links or affiliate content can generate revenue. Some hoaxes are literal click farms in disguise.
Police Credibility & Reuse of Names
Hoaxes often invoke law enforcement or rescue agencies—that appeal to authority helps rationalize the narrative. By naming fictitious “Deputy Tyler Cooper,” the hoax gains a patina of credibility.
7. How Authorities and Platforms Are Responding
Recognizing the harm, some institutions and platforms are taking steps to reduce the prevalence of hoaxes.
Police & Public Warnings
Community policing departments publish warnings when hoaxes like this arise, advising the public to contact official sources, not rely on social media posts. These public clarifications help inoculate local communities.
Fact Checkers & Nonprofits
Organizations like Full Fact, Snopes, and local fact-checking groups monitor viral claims, issue verdicts, and publish debunks. Their work is critical to disrupting misinformation momentum.
Meta / Facebook Initiatives
Facebook (Meta) has been repeatedly urged to more aggressively filter hoaxes, especially ones that disable comments or alter content after posting. Some suggestions:
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Automatic detection of content edits
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Warning labels on “possible misinformation”
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Tighter moderation in local groups
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Enabling comments by default
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Collaboration with fact-checking partners
Full Fact has written to Meta expressing concern about how hoax posts flood community groups and asking for stronger controls. fullfact.org
Legal & Regulatory Pressure
Some jurisdictions are considering stricter liability for deliberately spreading misinformation, especially when it prompts false emergencies or public alarm. But enforcement is complex given free speech, jurisdictional boundaries, and digital anonymity.
8. What You Can Do: Practical Steps to Reduce Spread
Each social media user has a role in slowing the spread of these hoaxes. Here’s a checklist:
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Pause before sharing
Even a 30-second fact-check can prevent spread. -
Verify with authorities
Check local police or news sites for confirmation. -
Reverse-image search
See if the photo has been used elsewhere previously. -
Search for fact checks
Use trusted fact-checking organizations (Full Fact, Snopes, etc.) -
Avoid posting with comments disabled
If a post has comments off, treat it as suspicious. -
Alert group admins
Politely notify moderators in community groups when you believe a post is a hoax. -
Use social media reporting tools
Flag content as misinformation when available. -
Educate your network
Share knowledge about how to spot hoaxes. -
Promote digital literacy
Encourage people to question urgent emotional claims and consult multiple sources. -
Support responsible communities
Follow groups and pages that consistently verify before posting.
Below is a fuller draft you may adapt. Use headings, pull quotes, and media as fits your platform.
The Viral Hoax That Never Happened — and Why We Should Care
In social media forums across the UK, a deeply emotional post made the rounds: a photo of a bruised child, apparently found wandering at night, rescued by a courageous officer known as “Deputy Tyler Cooper.” The text urged users to “flood feeds” so that someone would recognize the child and reunite him with family. Versions credited Hereford, Kings Lynn, or other towns. But behind the spread lay nothing but a hoax.
Authorities intervened—West Mercia Police declared no such incident in Hereford, and Norfolk Constabulary denied anything like it in King’s Lynn. No officer by that name, no record of a missing child, and no rank of “deputy.”
This was not a flawed retelling of reality; it was a deliberate misinformation campaign, riding on emotional triggers and the credulity of local networks.
This story is not unique. Nearly every week brings another claim of a child rescued, a dog found, an elderly person abandoned. By the time many are debunked, the misinformation has already spread, entrapping well-meaning users in the viral cycle.
Below, we unpack how the hoax unfolded, why it succeeded, the damage it causes, and how everyday users can build resilience against this wave of emotional exploitation.
Anatomy of the Hoax: Recognizing the Red Flags
Hoaxes of this kind share a structural blueprint. Consider these recurring elements:
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A child in distress: Images, often sourced from elsewhere, reused to conjure empathy.
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Named “hero” figure: An officer with a realistic-sounding name (e.g. “Tyler Cooper”) to harness authority appeal.
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Brief narrative: “Found walking late, no identification, neighbors don’t know him.”
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Call to action: “Share widely,” “help us find his family.”
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Disabled engagement: Comments disabled or limited to prevent dissent.
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Post-hoc edits: Later retooled to promote external content (ads, links).
Emotional urgency, authority cues, and community trust make these hoaxes potent. Many users share before questioning, believing they might help a child.
The Hereford–King’s Lynn Case: Timeline & Responses
Initial Posts
Local Facebook groups in Hereford and King’s Lynn published near-identical posts with the same child’s image, claiming he had been rescued by “Deputy Tyler Cooper.” The impetus was urging users to share to help locate his family.
Authority Fact Checks
West Mercia Police denied the event. No such case exists, no officer by that name exists in their ranks.
Norfolk Constabulary, covering King’s Lynn, confirmed they don’t use a “deputy” rank and had no such incident recorded.
Full Fact published a fact-check labeling the claims false.
Other groups picked up the posts, replicating the imagery and narrative. Over time, versions with external links appeared—often redirecting to property listings or promotional sites.
Comments were disabled, preventing challenges.
Some versions inserted new names, towns, or dates—each mutated iteration generating fresh shares.
Psychological & Technical Mechanics Behind the Spread
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Emotional override
Concern for a child outstrips skepticism. The emotional story triggers sharing before verification. -
Authority bias
Mentioning a “Deputy” or “Officer” lowers doubt; people assume legitimacy when an official is involved. -
Group trust
In community pages, trust is high—members often accept posts from trusted locals without verifying. -
Algorithms amplify emotion
Platforms prioritize content with engagement; highly emotional posts gain boosts. -
Controlled feedback
Disabling comments halts critique, letting the narrative flourish unchecked. -
Monetization pivot
Once viral, posts can be edited to promote external sites—turning sympathy into clicks.
Broader Misinformation Ecosystem
These hoaxes are part of a wider problem: misinformation that thrives on emotional content, is algorithmically incentivized, and monetized at scale. Community groups—once forums for support—become vector networks. Disinformation exploits trust at local levels.
Meta/Facebook has been challenged repeatedly to do more—filter hoaxes, prevent comment disabling, flag edits, and partner with fact-checkers. Fact-checking organizations like Full Fact publish verdicts to disrupt spread.
The Real-World Harm
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Emergency resource waste: People may call police or hospitals to validate hoaxes.
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Distracting from real cases: Media attention may shift from genuine missing children to viral falsehoods.
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Undermining trust: Over time, users become cynical or distrustful of legitimate appeals.
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Monetization & fraud: Emotional posts get warped into scam funnels.
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Emotional distress: Vulnerable users can suffer anxiety or guilt from seeing such imagery.
How to Protect Yourself & Your Network
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Pause & verify before sharing.
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Check official sources, e.g. police or local news.
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Reverse-image search the photo.
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Look up fact checks (Full Fact, Snopes, etc.).
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Inspect the name/authority.
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Avoid posts with disabled comments.
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Report misinformation on platforms.
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Alert group moderators.
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Educate your network on spotting hoaxes.
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Support responsible communities using verification norms.
Closing Thoughts: Trust, Vulnerability & Digital Literacy
The “Tyler Cooper” hoax is hardly isolated. It’s part of a broader epidemic of emotionally driven misinformation exploiting social media’s structure and our collective empathy. Each share, though well-intended, contributes to a flood where truth drowns.
But all is not lost. By cultivating awareness, skepticism, and critical habits, social media users can reclaim agency. We can transform community groups from vectors of false alarm into spaces of verified support. We can refuse to trade our empathy for exploitation.
In an age where information flows at digital speed, the question is not whether we see stories, but whether we pause to ask: Is this true?.
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