Where They Hide, How to Find Them, and What to Do If You Do
By Larry Betz | Prepared Not Paranoid https://www.preparednotparanoid.com/
You don't need to be a spy to find hidden cameras in a hotel room or an Airbnb. You need to know where they hide, take a few slow minutes, and trust what looks out of place.
Over time, we've come to expect that as technology advances, everyday conveniences get smaller, cheaper, and more powerful. Just 25 years ago, a flip phone, a Walkman, a digital camera, and a camcorder were all separate, bulky devices. Today, all of that and more fits in the palm of your hand. That progress has created incredible tools for communication, safety, and creativity. But like most technology, it can be used for good or for harm.
I remember when "nanny cams" first made headlines. Well-meaning parents placed hidden cameras in their homes to make sure their children were safe while in the care of others. Sadly, what some of those cameras captured was heartbreaking: the abuse of infants, children, and elderly adults. The footage was a powerful wake-up call to the hidden dangers that can exist behind closed doors. All of it was captured because of hidden cameras.
But technology hasn't just improved. It has accelerated at an astonishing rate. Hidden cameras today are smaller and more discreet, and they record in high definition, even in low light. What once took bulky equipment now fits inside almost any household item.
Where Hidden Cameras Hide
Most of us have heard about hidden cameras in smoke detectors, alarm clocks, picture frames, and even TVs. After a lot of research, we've put together a list (with linked images) to help you recognize even the most unexpected spy cam disguises:
Charging blocks
Wall outlets and USB ports
Charging stations
A working wireless router
A phone charger and clock combo
A nightstand lamp and charger combo
A rotating floor fan
Wall light switches
Wall clocks
Smoke or carbon monoxide (CO) detectors
Tissue boxes
Sound bars
Humidifiers
Coat hooks
Coffee cup lids
Travel coffee mugs
Car remotes
I highly recommend reviewing this list before any trip. You don't need to memorize every item. Looking it over a few days ahead primes your awareness. Once you arrive, slowly scan the room. You might spot something that seems out of place or jogs your memory, and that's your cue to take a closer look.
The disguise isn't usually what gives a camera away. It's where it sits and where it's pointed.
Here's what gives them away.
See What They Look Like
These sites sell hundreds of hidden cameras. Browse them once, not to buy, but so you know what you're looking for:
Why This Matters
My goal isn't to make you paranoid. It's to give you an idea of what's out there and how it can affect your family. Finding out your loved ones were recorded in a place they assumed was safe would be traumatizing. Most of us don't have the time or resources to "RED CELL" every situation we walk into.
NOTE: A "RED CELL" is a team that thinks like the enemy. Their job is to find weaknesses by pretending to be the bad guys, looking for gaps, blind spots, or vulnerabilities in a home, an office, a travel plan, or a security system.
Want to red cell your own family? My 7-part series, Red Cell Your Family, walks you through it step by step: your routines, your house, your digital life, your circle, and your plan.
Start with Part 1: Think Like the Threat. [LINK] Then take the free Red Cell Family Audit, 74 yes-or-no questions that show you where your family's biggest gaps are.
There are more and more reports of hidden cameras found in Airbnbs, hotel rooms, public restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, and even college dorms. As these devices get cheaper and easier to buy, the risk to personal privacy grows, especially in places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
How Common Is It?
Hidden cameras in private and semi-private spaces have become a growing concern, especially in short-term rentals and public restrooms.
Short-term rentals: In a 2019 survey of 2,000 Airbnb guests by the firm IPX1031, 11% said they had found a hidden camera in a rental, and 58% said they worried about being watched. (Airbnb questioned the survey's method.) In a 2023 follow-up, about 1 in 4 renters said they'd spotted a camera at a vacation rental. Most were outside the property, but 5% said they found one inside.
Airbnb's response: In March 2024, Airbnb announced a worldwide ban on indoor security cameras, disclosed or not, starting April 30, 2024. Doorbell cameras, outdoor cameras, and noise monitors are still allowed, but hosts have to disclose them.
Hotels: Hard statistics are limited, but several high-profile cases have raised alarms. In South Korea in 2019, about 1,600 guests were secretly filmed and live-streamed from 42 rooms at 30 motels across 10 cities. In the U.S., a man was indicted in 2024, accused of secretly recording house guests in bathrooms at his family's properties in Texas and Colorado.
Public restrooms: In January 2024, a camera hidden under a Starbucks restroom sink in San Jose, California, recorded more than 90 people in a single day, some as young as 4. In May 2024, pen-style cameras were found under the sinks of two restrooms at a cafe in Falls Church, Virginia, and police opened an investigation.
It's Not Just Hotels
Hidden cameras don't only turn up where you travel. Two places parents need to think about:
Parents: Do You Really Know Your Children's Friends and Their Families?
The truth is, most of us have no idea what goes on behind closed doors. Knowing what I know now, I would never allow my children to sleep over at a friend's house. Ever. It may sound extreme, but we have to face an uncomfortable reality: there is a small but dangerous part of the population who would do anything to exploit children, including secretly recording them for their own sick purposes.
NOTE: For guidance on protecting your children online, see our Cyber Safety Manual. [LINK]
College-Bound Students: Be Aware, Not Exploited
Heading off to college brings new freedom and new risks. You can't control every environment, but you can take steps to protect yourself.
If you're living in a dorm, it's fairly easy to secure your own space. With a little diligence and awareness, you can also check shared bathrooms for hidden cameras or other red flags. Knowing what to look for makes a big difference.
It gets much harder off campus, in places you can't control, like fraternity houses or parties. These spaces are often chaotic and poorly supervised, and unfortunately, they can be hunting grounds for bad actors.
Here's my hard advice: don't do anything in those places that you wouldn't want recorded and shared. What seems like harmless fun to the "frat bros" could become a devastating, humiliating experience for anyone who's unknowingly recorded in a vulnerable moment. Anyone can be recorded, but women are targeted most often.
One reckless night can lead to years of trauma.
Protect your future. Think before you drink. Trust your gut. Know your surroundings.
Now, back to the trip.
Here's how to protect your family wherever you stay.
Before You Book
Read the listing. Rentals have to disclose outdoor cameras and doorbell cameras. If a listing shows an indoor camera, that's against Airbnb's own rules. Report it and book somewhere else.
Read the reviews. Search them for "camera," "privacy," or "uncomfortable."
Know the hotel's side. Hotels use cameras in lobbies, hallways, and parking areas. A camera inside a guest room or bathroom is never normal.
How to Check Your Room
To protect your privacy, here's what to do:
Visual inspection: Look for unusual or out-of-place objects in private areas.
Light reflection test: Turn off the lights and use a flashlight to scan for camera lenses, which reflect light.
RF detectors: Use a radio frequency detector to pick up wireless cameras that are sending a signal.
Mobile apps: Some phone apps look for infrared light or scan the Wi-Fi network for unknown devices. They're limited, so treat them as one extra layer, not proof.
A Step-by-Step Room Sweep
Check the common hiding spots from the list and grid above, especially anything aimed at the bed, the shower, or the toilet.
Look for unusual objects. Be wary of anything that seems out of place or looks a little off. Hidden cameras are disguised as everyday things.
Use a flashlight. Turn off the lights and slowly sweep the room with a flashlight. A lens will give a small glint.
Check the mirrors. A two-way mirror is usually set into the wall instead of hanging on it. Knock on it: a regular mirror sounds thin, and a two-way mirror can sound dense. In a dark room, cup your hand around a flashlight pressed against the glass. If you can see a space behind it, cover the mirror and report it. (The popular fingernail test isn't reliable, so skip it.)
Tools You Can Use (Without Being a Spy)
If you're worried about hidden cameras in your home, a hotel, or a vacation rental, you don't need to be James Bond. High-end security pros use advanced gear, but there are easy tools anyone can use to look for hidden recording devices, whether they're wired, wireless, or sitting idle.
1. RF detectors (radio frequency detectors)
These handheld devices scan for wireless signals from transmitting devices, like hidden Wi-Fi or Bluetooth cameras and microphones.
If a hidden camera is sending video or audio to another device, like a phone or computer, the RF detector picks up the signal.
Most beep or flash when they find a signal, which helps you narrow down the source.
Important: If the camera isn't transmitting (for example, it records to a memory card), an RF detector may not find it.
Everyday tip: Turn off all the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices you know about, like your phone, laptop, and TV, so the detector can focus on unknown signals.
2. Infrared (IR) scanners and night vision detection
Many hidden cameras use infrared light to record in low light or darkness, even though you can't see it.
These cameras often give off a faint red or white glow from the lens, especially in complete darkness.
An infrared detector, or even your phone's camera, can sometimes catch that glow.
Turn off the lights, open your phone's selfie camera (on many phones, the rear camera filters out infrared, but the front one doesn't), and slowly scan the room.
Everyday tip: Focus on unusual objects, smoke detectors, alarm clocks, air purifiers, light bulbs, wall chargers, and picture frames.
3. Non-linear junction detectors (NLJDs)
This is professional-grade gear, likely overkill for most people, but it's good to understand. An NLJD detects the tiny electronic parts inside any electronic device, whether it's on or off.
It doesn't rely on radio signals or light, so it can find a dormant device, like a camera that only records to a card.
Law enforcement, government agencies, and some corporate security teams use them for deep surveillance sweeps.
Everyday reality: They cost thousands of dollars, so they aren't practical for the average traveler. But it's good to know they exist.
Here's how the tools compare.
So, What Should You Use?
For most people, an RF detector plus a careful visual check goes a long way. If you travel often, work in a sensitive field, or just want peace of mind, a good RF detector is a worthwhile investment.
Do your homework before you buy. Many cheap knock-offs don't do what they claim.
Bonus tip: Combine the tech with awareness. If something seems off, like strange blinking lights, wires where they shouldn't be, or more than one alarm clock in a room, trust your gut and look closer.
If You Find One
Don't handle it. It's evidence. Take photos of it where it sits, and of where it's pointed.
Leave. Get yourself and your family out of the room or rental.
Call the police. Secretly recording someone in a private space is a crime in most places, but the exact laws vary, so check your state and county. Let the police document it.
Report it to the hotel manager or the rental platform, and ask to be moved or refunded.
What to Say
To the host or front desk
"Are there any cameras or recording devices on the property, inside or out?"
"Where exactly are the outdoor cameras pointed?"
If you find something
"I found what looks like a camera in our room. I'm not touching it. We need to be moved, and I'm calling the police."
If they brush you of
Call the police yourself, and report it to the rental platform or the hotel's corporate office. You don't need anyone's permission to report a crime.
SCAN It
S, See your environment: Before you unpack, scan the room for anything out of place or aimed at the bed, the shower, or the toilet.
C, Create space: If something looks wrong, step out. Don't stay in the room to investigate.
A, Act deliberately: Do the sweep, cover what you're unsure of, and document anything you find.
N, Never doubt your gut feelings: If a room feels off, move. Your privacy is worth a room change.
5 Quick Wins You Can Start Today
Review the disguise list a few days before your next trip.
Do the flashlight sweep in a dark room when you arrive.
Try the selfie camera check on your phone so you know how it works.
Read the camera disclosure on your next rental listing before you book.
Pack painter's tape to cover anything you're unsure of.
Ask Yourself
Would I notice a second smoke detector in my hotel room?
Do I know what I'd do, and who I'd call, if I found a camera?
Have I talked with my college-age kids about hidden cameras?
Remember
Most hotel rooms and rentals don't have hidden cameras. But the ones that do aren't marked. A few slow minutes, a flashlight, and an eye for what's out of place are often all it takes to protect your family's privacy.
Get Started Today
Get the free Travel Safety checklists. Simple, practical checklists for safer family trips. DM the word [KEYWORD] on Instagram or Facebook and I'll send them to you. [Get them here: LINK]
Go Deeper
Situational Awareness and Safe Family Travel Strategies. This post shows you how to find a hidden camera. The book gives you the complete strategy for hotels and Airbnbs: choosing where to stay, securing your room while you're in and while you're out, every door tool and when to use it, the full elevator safety section, and protecting your phone, data, and identity while you travel. [Get it here: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/situational-awareness-and-safe-family-travel-strategies]
Tools I recommend: The RF detectors, camera detectors, and flashlights I recommend are in my Travel Safety Amazon store. https://link.amazon/B023guhPk
Related reading:
Safe Family Travel, Part 8: Hotel Security [LINK]
Safe Family Travel, Part 7: Choosing Safe Lodging [LINK]
Safe Family Travel, Part 10: Travel Digital Defense [LINK when posted]
References
IPX1031. Survey: Do Airbnb Guests Trust Their Hosts? (April 2019).
IPX1031. Vacation rental survey (2023), as reported by WSMV and Audacy (June 2023).
Airbnb. An update on our policy on security cameras (March 11, 2024). https://news.airbnb.com/an-update-on-our-policy-on-security-cameras/
CNN. Hundreds of motel guests were secretly filmed and live-streamed online (March 20, 2019).
Travis County District Attorney's Office, as reported by KXAN and Fox 7 Austin (May 2024).
San Jose Police Department, as reported by KGO-TV ABC7 (March 2024).
City of Falls Church Police Department, as reported by ARLnow and WJLA (May 2024).
Betz, L. Situational Awareness and Safe Family Travel Strategies (Hotel and Airbnb Security Strategies).
Betz, L. Navigating the Red Zone and Beyond (SCAN framework).
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for professional security services. Laws on recording and privacy vary by state, county, and country, so check the laws where you are. Detection tools and apps have limits and can give false alarms, and none of them can guarantee a room is camera-free. Prepared Not Paranoid and Larry Betz are not affiliated with any website, seller, hotel brand, or rental platform mentioned here and are not responsible for the content of third-party websites or resources linked here. Affiliate disclosure: I've linked to products from my Amazon store that I personally recommend. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work.
If you find a hidden camera or feel unsafe, leave the area and call 911 (or the local emergency number when you're overseas).
Awareness gives you time. Time gives you options.
The Prepared Protector is someone who's decided that loving someone means being ready for them, not just hoping things go fine.
Prepared Not Paranoid. Protecting the Most Vulnerable Among Us.
