A so-called “glitch” at Chase Bank’s ATMs has sparked a frenzy on social media, with TikTokers flaunting what they believed to be easy cash.
The supposed loophole allowed customers to deposit fake checks for exorbitant amounts and withdraw the money before the fraud was detected. Some even dubbed it an “infinite money hack,” but this was far from a harmless prank—it was classic check fraud, a crime that can lead to serious legal consequences.
The trend began when a few Chase customers realized they could deposit fraudulent checks, which then showed up as available funds in their accounts. Many rushed to ATMs, withdrawing tens of thousands of dollars that weren’t theirs. Videos quickly circulated on social media, with people boasting about their newfound wealth, some even flashing wads of cash and cruising around in cars, thinking they had outsmarted one of the country’s oldest and most reputable banks.
However, the joy was short-lived. As the fraudulent checks failed to clear, Chase Bank swiftly took action, leaving many of these would-be opportunists with massive negative balances. Screenshots of accounts plunging into the red, some by tens of thousands of dollars, soon flooded social media. Panic set in as those who thought they had found a quick way to riches faced the harsh reality of their actions.
“We are aware of this incident, and it has been addressed. Regardless of what you see online, depositing a fraudulent check and withdrawing the funds from your account is fraud, plain and simple,” a Chase spokesperson told DailyMail.com. The bank declined to elaborate on how individuals managed to bypass their security protocols but made it clear that the situation was under control.
One of the more notorious videos from this brief but explosive trend featured a man exiting a Chase branch in Yonkers, New York, celebrating with a thick stack of cash. Accompanied by friends, they paraded through the streets, waving hundred-dollar bills and showing off their Chase debit cards, seemingly unaware of the impending fallout.
But the celebrations turned into regrets as more and more people shared their horror stories of accounts in deep negative territory. One man, visibly distressed, recorded himself as he reviewed his account showing pending deductions of $31,000 and another $7,000, all due to the fake checks he had deposited. “They really told me to tap in, the next day it was supposed to clear, but look at my account,” he lamented, rubbing his face in disbelief.
Another individual who joined the trend found his account nearly $11,000 in the red, sparking a mix of panic and anger. Social media, as it often does, responded with a mix of memes and serious warnings. Some mocked those who fell for the scheme, joking about the absurdity of risking “generational debt to buy a nice car they’ll own for two days before all their assets are seized by the bank.”
Yet, others took a more serious tone, warning of the severe consequences that could follow. One woman bluntly stated that Chase was going to “put a hurtin’ on” anyone involved in the fraud, questioning why anyone would think such an act would go unnoticed. “You don’t think that this is going to be trackable?” she asked incredulously.
Jim Wang, a well-known financial educator on TikTok, also chimed in, warning viewers of the gravity of their actions. “In the case of this ‘glitch,’ it was just check fraud. You’re going to get in huge trouble if you do something like this,” he cautioned. He reminded his followers that just because money appears in their account doesn’t mean it’s theirs to spend, and that they could face significant financial and legal repercussions.
And those repercussions could be severe. Check fraud, particularly when involving large sums, can be prosecuted at both the state and federal levels. The penalties are steep: up to 30 years in prison and fines as high as $1 million for major thefts from financial institutions.
So while the allure of quick cash might have seemed irresistible to some, the reality is that this “hack” was nothing more than a fast track to debt, and potentially, to jail. As the dust settles, those who participated are now left to deal with the serious consequences of their actions, a sobering reminder that there’s no such thing as easy money—especially when it comes at the expense of the law.
