During Labor Day weekend, a TikTok trend known as the "Chase glitch" suddenly began making the rounds.

Somehow, people were convinced that writing themselves bad checks for huge sums of money and then quickly withdrawing the funds (before the check officially bounced) was a "glitch" or key to getting free cash.

Individuals who participated in this ill-fated TikTok trend are quickly learning there was no real "Chase glitch." There was also never a secret loophole for people to print money out of thin air.

Instead, as pointed out by the bank itself and various TikTok users, everyone who exploited the so-called "glitch" actually just committed (felony) check fraud. Days after the bad checks inevitably bounced, "Chase glitch" participants found their checking accounts frozen and overdrawn.

Now, the bank is also reporting them to law enforcement.

Major charges coming down the pipeline

In the aftermath of this trend, TikTokers took to the platform, warning that folks who wrote themselves bad checks and then seized the funds would be facing federal charges.

As predicted, Chase is taking action beyond freezing accounts and reclaiming the money that people took via check fraud. Multiple sources report the bank is furthermore looking into potentially thousands of cases and alerting the authorities. Part of this involves sharing the ATM surveillance videos of individuals who stole money.

In the weeks to come, additional stories and updates will likely emerge, especially once arrests begin. The criminality of the "Chase glitch" also continues to be widely discussed on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit.

An open and shut case for the authorities

Any prosecutor who tries the "Chase glitch" participants in a court of law will have virtually all the evidence they need. Not only are these folks on ATM surveillance footage, but many have also self-incriminated, boasting online about their "free cash."

TikTok is full of videos that show people lining up at ATMs, gloating about the funds they swiped with bad checks, and complaining about their negative checking account balances after Chase took back the money.

Even the most competent attorneys will struggle to convince anyone of these people's innocence.