Manhattan Man Pleaded Not Guilty to QR Code Theft
Mihai Theodor Enescu faced charges for allegedly placing fake payment stickers on city parking meters.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Financial Crime
Live Poll
Do you trust QR codes found on public parking meters for making payments?
Mihai Theodor Enescu has pleaded not guilty to identity theft and criminal impersonation charges in Manhattan Supreme Court. Prosecutors allege he placed fake QR code stickers on parking meters to harvest credit card data from unsuspecting drivers.
Why it matters
The scheme targeted motorists by mimicking the official ParkNYC system to illicitly obtain financial information. Officials discovered the fraudulent stickers on parking meters throughout Manhattan, raising concerns about digital payment security in public spaces.
Mihai Theodor Enescu faces five counts of second-degree identity theft and six counts of second-degree criminal impersonation. The 39-year-old defendant was arraigned on September 30, 2026, following an investigation that recovered 64 fraudulent stickers.
The players
Mihai Theodor Enescu
The 39-year-old suspect is currently facing multiple felony charges in Manhattan Supreme Court.
The details
The suspect allegedly covered official ParkNYC payment labels with fake 4-by-6-inch stickers that redirected motorists to a fraudulent website. Investigators utilized digital forensic techniques to link the suspect to the website account after the scheme became public in June 2025.
Timeline
The parking sticker scheme first came to light in June 2025.
The defendant was arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court on September 30, 2026.
Legal Context
This case reflects a broader trend of criminals leveraging public trust in digital infrastructure to facilitate identity theft. The prosecution of this scheme follows the 2025 ParkNYC digital payment expansion, highlighting the ongoing challenges of securing urban technology.
Residents should inspect parking meter stickers for signs of tampering or overlays before scanning any QR code. If a sticker appears suspicious or feels like an adhesive label placed over official signage, motorists are advised to use the official ParkNYC mobile app directly.
The takeaway
Always verify that QR codes on public infrastructure are printed directly on the machine rather than appearing as removable stickers. Vigilance remains the most effective defense against digital skimming attempts in high-traffic urban areas.
Further reading
For more on evolving fraud schemes, visit the Financial Crime section.
Live Poll
Do you trust QR codes found on public parking meters for making payments?
