A viral TikTok trend that claimed to offer “free cash” by exploiting a “money glitch” at Chase Bank has been exposed as a form of check fraud. The trend, which encouraged users to write large checks to themselves and withdraw the funds before the checks cleared, gained significant traction on social media. However, Chase Bank has now confirmed that this practice is illegal and warned participants of the severe consequences.

The trend spread quickly across TikTok, with numerous videos showing users celebrating after withdrawing large sums of money, believing they had discovered a loophole in the banking system. These individuals took advantage of a grace period offered by Chase Bank, where funds from deposited checks are temporarily made available before the checks are fully processed. Participants in the trend wrote checks for tens of thousands of dollars to themselves, then attempted to withdraw a portion of that money immediately.

In response to the growing number of incidents, Chase Bank issued a statement clarifying the situation. “Regardless of what you see online, depositing a fraudulent check and withdrawing the funds from your account is fraud, plain and simple,” said a Chase spokesperson. The bank emphasized that this so-called “glitch” is nothing more than an illegal scam and that those involved could face serious legal repercussions.

Legal experts warn that individuals caught participating in check fraud could face substantial fines and jail time. Misdemeanor charges for check fraud can lead to up to one year in jail and significant fines, while felony charges can result in even harsher penalties, including multiple years of imprisonment.

This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of following viral trends without understanding the potential legal and financial consequences.