A Facebook post that has circulated widely across community pages and neighborhood groups claims that a 2-year-old child was found wandering alone and rescued by a law enforcement officer named “Deputy Tyler Cooper.” The post includes images of a young boy with visible bruises and urges readers to share the message to help locate the child’s family.
Although the story has gained significant attention and emotional responses, the incident described in the post did not occur. Authorities have confirmed that the narrative, the officer’s identity, and the alleged rescue are entirely fabricated.
Several police departments in the United Kingdom have publicly addressed the viral post to prevent further confusion. West Mercia Police, one of the agencies mentioned in some versions of the story, stated that there is no record of such an incident and that no officer by the name “Tyler Cooper” works for the department. Officials also confirmed that they did not receive any emergency calls matching the description shared online.
Norfolk Constabulary issued a similar clarification, noting that the department does not use the title “deputy,” which further supports that the story is fictional. Law enforcement agencies agree that the post is not connected to any real event.
This type of misleading content reflects a broader trend on social media platforms. Emotional stories involving vulnerable individuals—such as children, elderly people, or animals—are often created to gain rapid attention and encourage sharing. Once a post receives widespread engagement, it may later be edited to include links or promotions that redirect users to unreliable or misleading websites.
In many cases, these altered posts promote questionable products, deceptive offers, or unsafe online schemes. Because the original message appears harmless or compassionate, many users continue to share it without realizing the content has been changed.
To reduce the spread of misinformation, it is important to approach emotional or urgent social media posts with caution. Before sharing, users should check whether credible news outlets or official police pages have reported the situation. Repeated posts with identical wording but different locations are often a sign that the story is not genuine.
It can also be helpful to notice whether comments are disabled, as this may prevent others from pointing out inaccuracies. When available, reviewing a post’s edit history can provide insight into whether the content has been altered after gaining attention.
Social media users often share these stories out of concern and goodwill. Taking a moment to verify information helps protect online communities and ensures that accurate, trustworthy information continues to circulate.
