A McDonald’s employee in Texas has been arrested after police say he secretly double-charged customers by using a personal device to tap their credit cards a second time while working the register.
Giovanni Primo Blount, 19, was taken into custody Sunday in connection with an alleged credit card fraud scheme carried out at a McDonald’s franchise in Springtown, according to investigators.
Police say Blount processed customers’ legitimate payments as normal, then allegedly used his own device to tap their debit or credit cards again, adding unauthorized charges of roughly $10 to $20 per transaction. Investigators believe the extra charges were routed to an account controlled by Blount.
Authorities estimate the scheme netted about $680 across more than 50 transactions before it was discovered.
On Monday, prosecutors upgraded the charges against Blount to fraudulent use or possession of identifying information involving more than 50 items, a first-degree felony under Texas law.
In a statement, the Springtown Police Department urged residents who recently visited the Springtown McDonald’s to closely review their bank and credit card statements.
“Members of our community who recently paid with a debit or credit card are strongly encouraged to check for any unauthorized or suspicious charges,” police said, adding that anyone affected should contact law enforcement.
Blount has since posted a $30,000 bond and was released from jail while awaiting further court proceedings.
Police also warned that similar credit card skimming and tapping scams are becoming increasingly common nationwide. Authorities in multiple states, including Texas, New Jersey, and Washington, have reported a rise in cases involving skimmers or unauthorized card taps at retail locations.
In recent months, law enforcement in West Texas issued alerts about criminal groups suspected of placing skimming devices inside stores in cities such as Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, and Abilene. New Jersey officials have also reported skimmers found at convenience stores and near college campuses.
Cybersecurity officials say credit card compromise incidents have surged in recent years, with Texas consistently ranking among the states reporting the highest number of cases.
thedailycrime1
These you g people who do this know how to commit crimes but not how to have integrity.Lack of training and discipline when young