Over Labor Day weekend, social media caught fire with a ridiculous trend—a so-called "infinite money glitch" at Chase Bank.

Of course, this is part of a growing trend of scams in America.

BUT…

The Chase “money glitch” is probably the dumbest one.

Here’s the gist: People figured out that if you deposited a check at a Chase ATM or through mobile deposit, a chunk of the funds would be available instantly, even before the check was cleared.

So, folks started depositing fat checks, withdrawing the available cash, flaunting their “earnings” online like they’d broken through the Matrix.

The problem with this so-called glitch? The checks were fake.

When the checks bounced, Chase didn't just shrug its shoulders and say, "Oopsie! You got us!"

Instead, they nuked the accounts and demanded that the money be returned. Worse, some people got duped into this by someone with a fake check who took half the money and bolted.

The kicker? It’s a felony. And it’s ridiculously easy to prove. All the cops need is the paper trail—or the TikToks these geniuses posted themselves.

Oh, and if you think that’s the only “glitch” floating around, think again. There’s a whole parade of scams out there.

The Glue Scam: Scammers stick glue in the card reader at the Chase ATM. Then you have to tap your card to make the machine work. The catch? When you tap, it doesn’t automatically log you out. You have to do it manually. If you don’t? Someone will come up behind you and clean you out.

(This scam has been going on for a year. Why Chase hasn’t fixed it is beyond us.)

The Fake Pay-to-Park Scam: In San Clemente, people are getting scammed by “pay to park” signs on busy streets. You scan the QR code on the official-looking sign, and it takes you to an official-looking website. You put in your credit card info. Boom. Thanks for all the Louis Vuitton bags.

The Phantom Package Scam: Others are receiving packages of items they never ordered. Sometimes this is to make fake confirmed purchase reviews on Amazon. Other times, however, it’s to get you to scan a QR code and infect your device with malware.

The iPhone Family Plan Scam: Scammers use stolen identities to obtain family plans from mobile carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. If the credit score is high enough, they sign up for the family plan at multiple stores in one day. They’ll get four iPhones on credit for $200 (taxes) at each store, then sell them for $800 to $1,000 each. They turn $800 into at least $12,800 in a day’s work. 

The SMS Blaster: Google has issued a warning about a new tool that scammers are using, known as the SMS Blaster. This small device, about the size of a cell phone, acts like a mini cell tower and can trick nearby phones into connecting to it instead of the legitimate network. Once connected, the scammers can bypass the phone’s security and flood it with spam messages, often leading users to click on harmful links.

The good news? Android users can protect themselves by disabling the obsolete 2G network in their phone settings, which prevents the device from connecting to SMS Blasters. Unfortunately, iPhone users currently don’t have this option, making them more vulnerable to this type of attack. Google has advised that Apple may eventually provide a way to disable 2G, but until then, iPhone users should be extra cautious.

There’s No Magic Bullet

Unfortunately, there’s no magic gadget that can shield you from every scam out there. But here are a few tools and tips that can help:

→ Credit Report Flaggers: Use services like Credit Karma or Experian to keep an eye on your credit report. They’ll alert you to any suspicious activity.

→ Call Blocker Apps: Apps like Hiya or Truecaller can help block spam calls and identify potential scam numbers.

→ Anti-Malware Software: Keep your devices protected with reputable anti-malware software like Malwarebytes. It helps block malicious links and keeps your system clean.

→ Yubikey: I’ve mentioned this at least 40 times in these digital leaves, and I’ll mention it 40 more: Yubikeys will save your butt.

Unfortunately, scams are a part of everyday life in America.

From the classic bait-and-switch to more sophisticated digital cons, the landscape is littered with pitfalls for the unwary.

The best defense? Stay informed, stay skeptical, and remember—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

But, scammers aren’t the only types you need to watch…

While scams can drain your wallet in one swift move…

There's another more subtle threat to your financial health: overconfident experts.

For that, we invite Davis Wilson back to talk about how the experts can cost you the most.