Springtown’s Golden Arches came with an ugly surprise this week, as police say a teenage employee quietly turned the credit card reader into his own side hustle.
A 19-year-old Poolville resident was arrested after Springtown police say he skimmed customer credit cards while working at a McDonald’s northwest of Fort Worth. Investigators allege he ran legitimate payments, then quickly used a separate personal device to tap the same cards again, tacking on extra $10 to $20 charges that added up to about $680. Officers say multiple unauthorized transactions were uncovered, and the suspect was taken into custody early Sunday as detectives pulled together the scope of the alleged scheme.
What police say happened
According to CBS News, police identified the suspect as 19-year-old Giovanni Primo Blount of Poolville and counted more than 50 fraudulent charges tied to the scam. The outlet reports investigators believe roughly $680 was routed to an account under Blount’s control and that he faces a first-degree felony charge. Authorities say he posted a $30,000 bond on Monday, and Springtown police told reporters the investigation is still active as detectives work to identify and notify affected customers.
How investigators say the scam worked
As reported by FOX 4, detectives say the employee first ran legitimate customer payments through the McDonald’s register. After that, they allege he re-ran or “tapped” those same cards on a separate personal terminal to create the extra charges. That tactic typically shows up as small test charges, usually between $10 and $20, that can slip past people who are not watching their accounts closely. Investigators told reporters some customers have already received refunds while the department sorts out remaining transactions.
Police advice for customers
Per CBS News and the Springtown Police Department, anyone who used a debit or credit card at this McDonald’s should pull up recent statements and scan for unfamiliar $10 to $20 charges. Police recommend reporting any suspicious activity to your bank, avoiding situations where your card leaves your sight, and considering mobile wallets or contactless payment options that tokenize card data.
Officers also suggest changing PINs and online banking passwords and turning on real-time transaction alerts whenever possible. Those extra steps, they say, can help customers get faster refunds and cut off further losses while detectives finish their audit of the restaurant’s transactions.
Why this fits a broader pattern
Consumer groups and local stations have been waving red flags about similar contactless-payment scams, sometimes nicknamed “ghost tapping,” where fraudsters use handheld terminals or fake vendors to quietly run charges. As WSMV reported, the Better Business Bureau has warned about these tactics and pushed cardholders to keep an eye on real-time alerts, use RFID-blocking sleeves, and always confirm the merchant name and amount on a screen before tapping.
Experts say those small test charges are not an accident. Lower dollar amounts are less likely to trigger automatic fraud alerts, which can give scammers more time to keep milking accounts before anyone notices.
Legal implications
Blount has been booked on a first-degree felony related to fraud. If that charge leads to a conviction, the punishment could be steep. Under the Texas Penal Code, as summarized by FindLaw, a first-degree felony can carry a prison sentence of five to 99 years or life, along with a possible fine of up to $10,000. The case will move through local courts as prosecutors review the police findings and evaluate any restitution for victims.
If you believe your card was hit in the Springtown incident, contact your card issuer and Detective V. Thomas with the Springtown Police Department at the number provided by local police, as FOX 4 reports. Officials are urging anyone with lingering questions or unresolved refunds to reach out so investigators can complete their transaction review and pursue potential restitution for customers.
