A viral Facebook post claiming “Deputy Tyler Cooper” rescued an injured child is completely fake. The story, often shared in community groups, uses emotional photos and asks people to “share widely” to help find the child’s family.
Police departments confirmed the incident never happened, and no officer named Tyler Cooper exists. Authorities also pointed out that “deputy” isn’t even a rank in some of the departments mentioned.
The hoax is part of a larger Facebook scam trend where fake emotional stories are used to gain shares and attention. Once posts go viral, scammers often edit them to promote shady links, fake products, or scam websites.
To stay safe:
- Verify stories through trusted news sources
- Be cautious of emotional posts asking for shares
- Watch for disabled comments or repeated reposts
- Check if the post has been edited
These scams rely on people’s good intentions, so always fact-check before sharing.