Seth Lakeman's song being nominated for Best Traditional Track (not song, I notice) does raise the question as to whether a writer can compose a song, and then declare it to be traditional, possibly waiving the royalties (although "trad. arr. Bloggs" would allow Mr Bloggs to claim the royalties anyway I believe), and make a false claim that they collected it from a dying miner, sailor or chartered accountant - oops, I meant weaver - who gasped out the words and tune on their deathbed.

Who would be able to tell? Who can tell this hasn't been done already? Does anyone know of cases where it has been done as a deliberate hoax?