Hidden Cameras in your Airbnb's, Hotels, Vrbo's ; We show you how to locate them

Cameras disguised as everyday items, hidden in a vacation rental or hotel, can invade your family’s privacy, and you may never even know. We’ve seen it happen, but how do you prevent it? As easy as it is to buy a hidden camera online, it’s just as simple to buy a hidden camera detector. To find out how well detectors work, 5 On Your Side tested them out.

Our team hid four different types of cameras in a home. One was disguised as a USB adapter, and another looked like a smoke detector. Two other cameras were hidden in discrete locations. All were purchased online for between $20 and $50.

WRAL consumer reporter Keely Arthur had to use two camera detectors to find them without knowing what the cameras looked like or where they were placed. Those detectors also sell online for $40 to $50. After training on the detectors, Keely searched two rooms for the hidden cameras using two main features on the detectors — a red light that highlights camera lenses and a beep that alerts you to wireless signals. It took nearly six minutes of searching to find the first camera hidden in a stuffed toy. However, the same detector passed right over two other cameras without alerting. The team switched to the second detector, which quickly alerted on a hidden camera in the smoke detector.

Keely spotted a third camera with the lens-finding light.

"There’s certain optics in there that are going to reflect light a little bit differently than, say, a pane of glass," explained Tracy Wallace, cybersecurity expert and director of content at INE.com.

The detectors alerted on a camera hidden in the smoke alarm and a camera hidden in a stuffed toy because they were connected to WiFi and sending out a signal, and the other cameras weren’t. That’s why Wallace says the lens light is a critical feature.

"We saw it was detecting, but then it also has got the actual visual indicator which I think is really useful and probably of the two, maybe even more important," Wallace said. In 20 minutes, Keely was able to find three of four cameras, but both detectors also gave off a lot of false alerts.

"You need to know what a positive looks like, and you’re going to get false positives," Wallace warned.

Knowing what a positive looks like means testing it out on your cell phone, computer, WiFi hot spot or something else you know is transmitting a signal. Also, test to know what it it looks like when the light on the detector highlights a camera.

"Even knowing I’m supposed to be looking for these [cameras] and I have the devices, it’s really hard," Keely said after the test.

These devices did work in our test and Wallace agreed with our findings.

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[AKrn]

Maybe if air bnb owners started seeing reports of other owners being beaten within inches of their lives for placing hidden cameras, they'd think twice.

[Godiswithme]

This is becoming a HUGE PROBLEM we need a better detection devices!!!!

[Ryuusei]

thank you, i was trying to figure out which type of hidden camera detector to get and this was a great demonstration of the effectiveness of each style

[yannip]

I don't stay in airbnb because of their hidden cameras and their ridiculous cleaning fees! Let airbnb sink!

[cindyatwood]

What was the name of the detector that worked best? (The link to Amazon no longet works.)

[mogdor]

Pervs watching this: Cool, now I know which camera to use, thanks!!

[sherryhillman]

I always check when l stay somewhere. I will definitely be buying this detector.

[Himmelgrau]

The devices mentioned here are unreliable at best. One of the best ways to find hidden cameras is to use a thermal imaging camera. There are models out there that can attach to a mobile phone and cost under $300.

[jeanjaz]

I can understand airbnb owners wanting to see if renters are destroying their property.
But the ways it could be abused are too obvious.

[Qrayon]

The t.v. in you hotel room could be watching your every move. That's why I wish I could stay in a motel/hotels where there's no t.v. in the room.

[ed]

Plot twist. There's a hidden camera in the detector.

[musashi-san____]

This is normal unfortunately. We have a lot of sick puppies.

[PatHand-ogyd]

Give me a break. Odds are, only a tiny percentage of hidden cameras will be detected. However, I’d pay to stay at a hotel that guaranteed “no hidden cameras”!

[tracyfox]

I would totally sue the pants off a hotel or AirBnB if I found one and I would own the property when I got through with them. This is about as vile and disgusting as it gets!! I bet when these places start taking financial hits cause people have become so paranoid that they stop vacationing at these places than something might get done about it. Unbelievable!!🤦‍♀️

[TA]

You can find hidden cameras using your smartphone. You don't have to spend money on detection devices.

[wdiddy]

Hotels spreading the fear as if hotels don't have the same problems.

[luisbauz]

It happened to me in 2003 at 1269 N Vermont, LA, p Diddyv iit ruined my spirit

[originalsigbin]

this should be aware this to all in's. be carefull

[jamespeace]

The stupid big TV on the wall mirrors check them, sockes in bathroom.

[bgregg]

Cameras are very cheap, small & easy to disguise.