Camera Found in Air BNB, Company Declined to Act

last month

Vacationers found a camera recording in the bathroom of the Air BnB in which they were staying. The company declined to give them a refund or take down the listing from their site until contacted by the newspaper despite evidence provided by the guests, including a police report. The issue is still not resolved.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/travel/airbnb-refund-camera-bathroom.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sU8.1CWS.Z-idF0P2uCs0&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

This could happen anywhere and could have been placed by a previous guest or cleaning crew or property manage. It could also happen in a hotel. The fact that the company did not remove the listing for months after the incident is disturbing , however, and demonstrates how little comsumer protection there is from a company that has no real responsibility for what they broker.

Featured Answer

Olychick

last month

last modified: last month

This sent me on a search for a device to detect hidden cameras. It's hard to find reviews of different devices from sites familiar or recognizable to me. But I did find this article about how to use your cell phone to scan for hidden cameras. I remember reading this somewhere else: Link to article

"Suitable for finding infrared (IR) cameras, using a phone is among the fastest methods for finding a hidden camera. Simply point your phone’s camera around the room and look for any bright red dots that appear on the screen. These dots indicate the presence of infrared, which the majority of cameras give off for the purpose of enhancing images in the dark.

Can a cell phone detect a hidden camera?

Cell phones can detect a hidden camera using their camera. While it’s possible to use the phone’s camera app to do this by simply checking for unusual reflections or lights that appear, you can also download a hidden camera detector app.

Once the app is installed, open it and scan the area for any hidden cameras. The app alerts the user if infrared lights are detected. Much like using a phone camera to notice infrared lights, a flashlight can be used instead to check for unusual reflections from objects as a final measure. Simply turn off all the lights in the room and slowly scan the area with the light for any reflective lenses that might indicate a hidden camera."

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

lisaam
last month
I was surprised how much info I needed to provide, including selfies, when I just reserved AirB&B for next April in PA.

My garage apartment is short term rental but is handled by a local agency that does list it on AB&B as well as VRBO. We rarely have tenants for less than 4 weeks and frequently longer.

Last fall when bookings appeared slow we offered it for 2 night stays and got one very creepy last minute rental. Phone # used was text only, no voice. Payment to ABB was via stolen credit card (I did receive payment). Promptly went back to longer leases and I bleached every surface possible.
Kswl thanked lisaam
Sueb20
last month
Selfies! I have never been asked to provide a pic. Oh wait. My profile does include a photo. But just one.

The hidden camera: ugh.
Kswl thanked Sueb20
Related Professionals
Cartersville Furniture & Accessories · North Bergen Furniture & Accessories · Union City Furniture & Accessories · Temple Terrace Furniture & Accessories · Washington Interior Designers & Decorators · Saint James Architects & Building Designers · South Barrington Architects & Building Designers · North Bellport Home Builders · Santee Professional Organizers · Ellicott City Professional Organizers · Hialeah Professional Organizers · New York City Professional Organizers · Newark Professional Organizers · Perry Hall Professional Organizers · Salt Lake City Professional Organizers
dedtired
last month
That is sickening. What kind of twisted people enjoy watching others use the bathroom? Ultimately its seems to me that the property owner is responsible for ensuring the privacy of their guests. This could happen in a hotel room as easily as an airbnb.

Sad that guests have to inspect rooms for cameras.
Kswl thanked dedtired
lisaam
last month
Not this exactly, but to be completely aware of condition (how many forks are left, what do the walls look like, etc.) of my rental property is why I prefer to do turnover cleanings myself. I do have a monthly cleaner come in while the space is rented
Kswl thanked lisaam
mtnrdredux_gw
last month
how much info I needed to provide, including selfies, when I just reserved AirB&B for next April in PA.

That's interesting. Do you rent often w them?
Kswl thanked mtnrdredux_gw
Ally De
last month
last modified: last month
Oh yuck. People so disappoint me.

I've seen listings which say outside cameras are used. But that's a whole different ball of wax over hidden indoors.

We have a vacation rental near us in a beach town. It's a pretty small 3 bedroom house and the owners specifically say no more than 7 people. And yet a few times every summer some delightful renters will cram 15 people in there. I always wondered if the listings which mention outside cameras are to deter things like that? Or perhaps people bringing animals to houses which say no pets allowed?

Oly, thanks for the info about how to scan for them inside. I never really thought about it before now, but you can bet I will in the future.
Kswl thanked Ally De
Kswl
Original Author
last month
Yes Oly, thank you for that info! It never ccurred to me that anyone would do such a thing but sadly people reveal new ways to be less than human on a daily basis :(
nicole
last month
@Olychick...Thanks for the info on how to find a camera. I'd like to think I clean a rental house so thoroughly I'd find any such thing...but.....
Kswl thanked nicole