McDonald’s Worker, 19, Arrested on Suspicion of Double-Charging Customers and Funneling Nearly $700 to His Personal Account

A 19-year-old McDonald’s employee in Texas has been arrested after police say he ran a credit-card scam that quietly hit customers at the register.

The Springtown Police Department (SPD) said in a social media post that Giovanni Primo Blount, 19, of Poolville, was arrested on Sunday, Jan. 18, after allegedly charging some customers twice when they bought items at the McDonald’s in Springtown.

According to investigators, Blount would process a customer’s real payment and then “tap” the same card on a personal device, “fraudulently charging an additional $10–$20 per transaction.” Police said the extra money was “routed to an account under his control.”

“Investigators believe Blount allegedly obtained approximately $680 before being apprehended,” SPD said.

Authorities urged anyone who recently visited the McDonald’s and paid with a debit or credit card to check their bank and card statements for any unauthorized or suspicious charges. Police added that some affected customers have already received refunds.

Blount was initially charged with theft of property — between $100–$750 — and was booked into the Parker County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

In an update posted Jan. 19, SPD said the case escalated after investigators determined Blount allegedly used his personal device across more than 50 transactions. Police said the charge was upgraded to fraudulent use or possession of identifying information involving more than 50 items — a first-degree felony.

SPD said Blount later posted bond and has been released from jail while court proceedings move forward.

Police also shared financial safety tips for customers, including monitoring bank and credit card activity regularly and enabling transaction alerts for real-time notifications. Authorities said anyone who spots suspicious charges should report them immediately to their financial institution.

Other recommendations included keeping your card out of sight when possible, using mobile wallets or contactless payments that “tokenize card information and prevent any third party from having physical control of your card,” and routinely changing PINs and banking passwords.

“Your vigilance plays a critical role in preventing financial crimes and helping law enforcement protect our community,” SPD said. “If you see something suspicious or believe your financial information has been compromised, report it promptly.”