Viral Trend Tricks People Into Committing Fraud
Exploiting a temporary glitch in Chase Bank’s ATM system, a new viral TikTok trend encouraged viewers to commit check fraud. Disguised as a fun way to make a quick buck and gain some views, many participants are now facing legal backlash.
Over Labor Day weekend, a number of creators advertised an “infinite money glitch” using Chase Bank ATMs. They would deposit checks that had no available funds attached to them, and thanks to the glitch, they were instantly able to withdraw the money they should not have had access to. Some users were able to get their hands on as much as $40,000, and many began spending their cash right away.
Due to the widespread nature of these videos, many viewers felt compelled to try out this Chase Bank glitch for themselves and advertised their spoils all over social media. However, most would soon find out that this new viral trend was really just a federal crime in disguise and that the views their videos received would not be worth it in the slightest.
As soon as Chase Bank got word of the glitch, they immediately set to rectify the situation, quickly flagging the fraudulent withdrawals conducted over the weekend. This left the participants of the trend in massive debt. One user was left shocked when, upon checking his balance, he was shown a negative balance of $11,000 in his account, many of which were subsequently locked.
Due to the widespread nature of these videos, many viewers felt compelled to try out this Chase Bank glitch for themselves and advertised their spoils all over social media.
While Chase Bank has yet to reveal how much money was stolen in the glitch, they have announced that they are serious about tracking down the misplaced funds. So, for the TikTok users who posted videos spraying dollar bills, your court hearing will probably be heading your way soon.
The Chase Bank glitch is not the only harmful TikTok trend that has popped up during this last year.
For those who haven’t already caught on, this Chase Bank glitch is really just check fraud. Due to the massive amounts of money some users withdrew, their crime would be classified as a felony, which includes large fees and jail time. Austen Allred, CEO of the coding boot camp Bloom Institute of Technology, posted on X, “It seems like for every type of fraud that exists there’s a TikTok influencer who just discovered it and thinks it’s foolproof.”
The Chase Bank glitch is not the only harmful TikTok trend that has popped up during this last year. Though not as widespread, many users may remember the “Kia Challenge.” Some creators figured out that after ripping off the steering column cover and removing the ignition cylinder, a USB plug could jumpstart a Kia.
Trends such as the Kia Boys and the Chase Bank glitch really bring to mind the age-old saying, “If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you?”
Videos were posted on TikTok of teens taking joyrides in these stolen cars, and those who were caught were quickly punished. YouTube creator Tommy G released a short documentary on this viral trend called Kia Boys Documentary: A Story of Teenage Car Theft.
Trends such as the Kia Boys and the Chase Bank glitch really bring to mind the age-old saying, “If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you?” Unfortunately, it seems like, for many TikTok users, the answer seems to be a resounding “yes!” As of now, it’s unclear how Chase Bank expects participants to pay them back, but we can be certain that they will because, sadly, there’s no such thing as free money.
