Viral Money Glitch Turns Legal Nightmare

By Greg Collier

What began as a viral trend on TikTok last summer has become a prolonged legal battle involving one of the largest banks in the United States and hundreds of its former customers. The so-called “infinite money glitch” captivated social media for a brief, chaotic window in late August, encouraging users to exploit a loophole that let them withdraw funds from fraudulent checks before they officially bounced. Now, JPMorgan Chase is taking legal action against individuals it says took advantage of that flaw.

Previously, the bank focused on high-dollar cases and filed lawsuits in federal courts. This week, however, it shifted its strategy, beginning to pursue smaller claims under $75,000 in state courts across the country. Lawsuits have now emerged in places like Georgia, Florida, New York, and Texas. The cases often involve similar stories. Large checks deposited under suspicious circumstances, followed by a flurry of withdrawals before the check was returned unpaid.

JPMorgan has stated that it is still investigating thousands of transactions from that time period. While some individuals voluntarily returned the funds after media coverage last fall, the bank has issued over a thousand repayment demands to others. The goal, according to the company, is to recover as much of the lost money as possible and to dissuade others from thinking financial institutions will simply let incidents like this slide.

Legal action is not limited to civil court. The bank says it is working with law enforcement on possible criminal charges. There is also a new legal frontier unfolding as some defendants attempt to shield themselves through bankruptcy filings. In response, JPMorgan is challenging those moves, arguing that debts tied to fraudulent behavior should not be discharged.

The incident, while rooted in the digital world of viral trends and short attention spans, now serves as a stark reminder that internet fame can come with long-term consequences. For those who thought the bank would write off the losses and move on, the message is clear, it will not. The lesson for others is simpler still, what starts as a social media stunt can easily end in court.