It started as a rumor on social media. People were posting videos of themselves at ATMs, dancing, throwing cash in the air, and claiming they’d found a "glitch" in the banking system. They called it the Chase infinite money glitch. Within days, the trend exploded on TikTok and X, fueled by a mix of genuine confusion and blatant opportunism. But here is the thing: it wasn't a glitch. It was just check fraud. Old-school, garden-variety, "you’re going to jail" check fraud.
Most people who tried it thought they’d stumbled upon a digital loophole. They believed that because the money showed up in their account instantly, it was somehow theirs to keep. It wasn't.
What Really Happened With the Chase Infinite Money Glitch
To understand how this mess started, you have to look at how modern banking works. When you deposit a check at a Chase ATM, the bank often gives you a portion of those funds immediately. This is a courtesy. It’s a way to keep the economy moving so you don’t have to wait three business days to pay your rent just because your boss gave you a paper check.
The "glitch" involved writing a check to yourself for a massive amount—say, $50,000—from an account with a zero balance. People would go to a Chase ATM, deposit the fake check, and then immediately withdraw a few hundred or thousand dollars before the bank realized the check was essentially a piece of colorful trash.
It worked. For about twenty-four hours.
Then reality hit. Chase, which happens to be the largest bank in the United States, isn't exactly run by amateurs. They have sophisticated fraud detection systems that caught on almost instantly. By the time the "glitch" went viral, the bank's security teams were already flagging accounts.
The Viral Delusion of "Free Money"
Social media creates a weird kind of peer pressure. When you see twenty videos of people claiming they got $10,000 for free, your brain starts to look for reasons why it might be legal. Some users claimed it was a "technical error" and that the bank couldn't legally take the money back.
That is absolutely false.
Banks have extremely clear terms of service. If a bank accidentally puts money in your account, it’s still their money. If you spend it, you’re essentially stealing it. In the case of the Chase infinite money glitch, it was even worse because the "glitch" required the user to actively deposit a fraudulent check. That’s a premeditated act.
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By the end of August 2024, Chase had already begun fixing the internal processing delay that allowed the withdrawals. But the damage for thousands of people was already done.
The Brutal Aftermath: Negative Balances and Legal Threats
Walking into an ATM and walking out with $5,000 you don't own feels great for about ten minutes. Then the check bounces.
When Chase realized the checks were fraudulent, they didn't just stop the transaction. They clawed the money back. If you had $50 in your account, deposited a fake $40,000 check, and withdrew $2,000, your balance didn't go back to $50. It went to negative $1,950.
Plus fees.
Lots of fees.
Chase started placing massive holds on these accounts. We’re talking "seven-business-day" holds or outright account closures. Many people found themselves "blacklisted" from the banking system entirely. If you get flagged for check fraud, your name goes into a database called ChexSystems. Once you’re in there, good luck trying to open a bank account anywhere else for the next five years.
Lawsuits and Federal Charges
This wasn't just a minor slap on the wrist. In late 2024, JPMorgan Chase began filing lawsuits in at least four federal courts, including districts in Texas, Florida, and California. They weren't just going after the masterminds; they went after individuals who kept significant sums of money.
In one specific case filed in the Southern District of Texas, Chase alleged that a man owed them over $290,000 after an associate deposited a forged check. The bank is aggressive. They aren't just looking for the money back; they are seeking interest, attorney fees, and in some cases, punitive damages.
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Why People Actually Believed It
Honestly, it’s easy to blame "dumb kids on TikTok," but there’s a deeper issue here regarding financial literacy. A lot of people truly don't understand the difference between "available balance" and "cleared funds."
- Available Balance: What the bank lets you use right now based on trust.
- Cleared Funds: Money that has actually moved from the originating bank to yours.
The Chase infinite money glitch exploited that gap of trust. Because we live in a world of "instant" everything—Instant Pots, instant messaging, instant Venmo transfers—people assumed banking was also instant. It’s not. Behind the scenes, the ACH (Automated Clearing House) system still moves at a pace that would make a snail look like a Ferrari.
When you deposit a check, Chase is basically giving you a short-term, interest-free loan while they wait for the other bank to send the cash. If that cash never arrives, the loan is called due. Immediately.
The Role of Influencers
We have to talk about the "Finfluencers." A few creators actually tried to warn people, but their videos got a fraction of the views compared to the ones showing stacks of twenties. The algorithm rewards excitement, not caution.
Some people argued that Chase was at fault for having a "buggy" system. While it's true the bank could have been more restrictive with ATM deposits, a system's vulnerability doesn't make the exploitation of that system legal. If you find a door to a vault accidentally left unlocked, walking in and taking the gold is still a crime.
Practical Realities of Check Fraud
If you or someone you know got caught up in this, the "ignore it and it goes away" strategy will fail. Chase has a massive legal department. They don't forget.
If an account is overdrawn due to a fraudulent deposit, the bank will eventually sell that debt to a collection agency. This will tank your credit score. We are talking a 100-point drop or more. That means no car loan, no apartment lease, and no mortgage for a long time.
Furthermore, check fraud is a felony. While the bank prefers to get their money back through civil lawsuits, they have no problem referring cases to local law enforcement or the FBI if the amount is high enough. Federal bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and fines up to $1,000,000.
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Most of the TikTok "glitch" participants won't face 30 years, but a felony record for the sake of a $500 ATM withdrawal is a historically bad trade.
How to Protect Your Financial Future
The Chase infinite money glitch is a perfect case study in "if it looks too good to be true, it’s probably a felony." There are no shortcuts in the banking system that the banks themselves haven't already accounted for.
If you ever see a "glitch" trending on social media that involves your bank account, do these things instead:
- Check the Source: Is the person telling you about this a CPA or a guy in a ski mask filming in a parking lot?
- Read Your Deposit Agreement: It’s boring, but it clearly states that you are responsible for every check you deposit.
- Wait for Clearing: Never spend money from a large check until at least 3–5 business days have passed, even if the bank says the funds are "available."
- Report Errors: If you see a massive spike in your balance that you can't explain, call the bank. Don't touch it.
The fallout from this specific trend is still happening. Court dates are being set, and bank accounts are being shuttered. It serves as a grim reminder that the internet is forever, and your bank's ledger is even more permanent.
If you find yourself in a situation where you owe a bank money due to one of these "glitches," the best move is to contact a consumer defense attorney immediately. Do not talk to the bank's fraud investigators without representation if the amount is significant. Negotiating a repayment plan early might prevent a civil lawsuit, but waiting until you're served with federal papers is a recipe for disaster.
The "infinite money" turned out to be "infinite debt" for those who didn't know better. Don't be the next person to find out the hard way.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Monitor your ChexSystems report: If you've been involved in a banking dispute, check your report to see what banks are saying about you.
- Set up Two-Factor Authentication: Ensure no one else can use your account to "test" these glitches.
- Review Regulation CC: Understand the "Availability of Funds" rules so you know exactly why the bank allows you to withdraw money before a check clears.