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Fake New York parking QR codes are scamming drivers who are always in a rush
- The investigation began in June 2025 when a user spotted a suspicious sticker on an East 10th Street parking meter in Manhattan, New York.
- Local authorities removed sixty-four fraudulent stickers that mimicked the official ParkNYC payment platform.
- The accused, Mihai Theodor Enescu, pleaded not guilty to identity theft and criminal impersonation charges in court.
The digital trap that triggered alarms on the streets of Manhattan
New York authorities raised alarms after uncovering a sophisticated cyber scam that used fake QR codes strategically placed over Manhattan parking meters to compromise drivers’ financial security. In this regard, the investigation, headed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the city’s Department of Investigation, brought to light a scheme where a Brooklyn resident identified as Mihai Theodor Enescu allegedly installed sixty-four fraudulent stickers. These overlapping adhesives featured the English message “Web Pay. Scan to Pay” and redirected unsuspecting users to a fake website that perfectly mimicked the official ParkNYC payment platform. Thus, while attempting to pay for parking, New Yorkers unknowingly handed over highly sensitive data such as credit card numbers, expiration dates, phone numbers, and vehicle license plates.
Details of the investigation and the capture of the main suspect
However, this entire criminal web involving the QR codes on the parking meters began to unravel in June 2025, when an observant citizen detected a suspicious tag pasted directly over the legitimate signage of a ParkNYC parking meter located near 79 East 10th Street. Although the user tried to complete the transaction and noticed that the webpage kept loading indefinitely without executing the charge, they caught the deception in time and contacted their banks before registering direct financial losses or threatening their financial security.
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Following that key complaint, the New York City Department of Transportation launched a thorough review of the equipment in the area, successfully gauging the true scope of the fraudulent maneuver. Consequently, during the subsequent court hearing, the thirty-nine-year-old suspect pleaded not guilty to five counts of second-degree identity theft and six counts of second-degree criminal impersonation, arguing to local media that he works as an Amazon delivery driver and remaining under supervised release while the legal process moves forward.
Official recommendations to protect your finances when parking your car
Given the severity of these frauds mimicking familiar municipal services, top officials from the district attorney’s office and security agencies issued strong warnings to remind motorists that New York City parking meters never require digital QR code scans. Likewise, District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. and Commissioner Nadia I. Shihata emphasized that drivers must strictly use the authorized ParkNYC application or traditional physical license-plate payment equipment to avoid falling prey to criminals and safeguard their financial security.
Furthermore, authorities advise carefully checking that the parking meter’s surface lacks overlapping stickers and immediately halting any operation if the digital platform requests unusual information. It is important to highlight that the investigation remains open and the district attorney’s office has enabled a direct contact line for any citizen who suspects they fell victim to this impersonation network on the streets of Manhattan.
