Customers who recently visited a McDonald’s in Springtown, Texas, are being urged to review their bank and credit card statements after police say a teenage employee carried out a fraud scheme that allegedly targeted dozens of unsuspecting diners.
In a social media post, the Springtown Police Department said they arrested Giovanni Primo Blount, a 19-year-old from Poolville who worked at the local McDonald’s, after Blount allegedly exploited routine card transactions to steal small amounts of money from customers, often without them noticing at the time.
$10 and $20 dollar extra charges
Investigators allege Blount processed customers’ legitimate payments and then used a personal device to “tap” their cards a second time. Those extra taps allegedly resulted in unauthorized charges ranging from $10 to $20 per transaction, with the funds routed to an account under Blount’s control. Police believe the alleged scheme netted approximately $680 before it was uncovered.
“Members of our community who recently visited the Springtown McDonald’s and paid using a debit or credit card are strongly encouraged to review their bank and card statements for any unauthorized or suspicious charges,” the department warned.
All the transactions may have happened on the same day. Law enforcement was notified after a suspicious charge immediately after leaving the drive-thru.
Blount’s upgraded charges
MCDONALD’S EMPLOYEE ARRESTED FOR STEALING FROM CUSTOMERS
— The Dallas Express News (@DallasExpress) January 19, 2026
19-year-old Giovanni Primo Blount allegedly double-charged patrons using a personal device at a Springtown location, pocketing around $680 before his Sunday arrest.https://t.co/gJFxN9CNtI pic.twitter.com/hkVy6rLOeM
Blount was arrested on January 18, 2026, and initially charged with Theft of Property involving amounts between $100 and $750. At the time, police noted that additional charges were possible as the investigation continued. A day later, authorities provided an update that significantly escalated the case.
“Officers have determined that the device was allegedly used for more than 50 transactions,” the update said. “As such, Blount’s charges have been upgraded to Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information more than 50 items, a first-degree felony,” the Springtown Police Department added.
Under Texas law, a first-degree felony can carry decades-long prison sentences if a defendant is convicted, making the upgraded charge far more serious than the original theft allegation. Police also confirmed that Blount posted a $30,000 bond and has been released from jail while awaiting court proceedings. McDonald’s confirmed Blount was fired.
Authorities say some affected customers may have already received refunds through their banks or card issuers. However, police emphasized that refunds do not mean a case is closed. “Even if a refund has been issued, anyone who believes they may have been impacted is asked to contact law enforcement,” the department said, directing potential victims to Detective V. Thomas with the Springtown Police Department.
The Springtown Police Department shared a list of safety recommendations, including reviewing bank statements, setting up transaction alerts, avoiding letting cards leave one’s sight, and using mobile wallets or contactless payments that tokenize card data.
“This incident serves as an important reminder that financial crimes can happen quickly and often go unnoticed without regular monitoring,” police said. The investigation remains ongoing.
