What to Do if You Discover a Hidden Camera in a Vacation Rental
You’re enjoying a lovely vacation, when you notice something strange in the bathroom. On closer inspection, you discover a hidden camera pointed at the shower. Dismayed, you search the rest of the property and find more cameras in the bedroom. You’re shocked! What should you do next?
Ways to Detect Hidden Cameras
There have been numerous cases in recent years of unsuspecting vacationers coming across hidden cameras and causing horrific emotional distress, not to mention damage to their reputations. These days it’s smart to get ahead of the voyeurs by conducting a quick search of the rental property before you settle in:
- Take a flashlight through the rental with lights off, looking for flickers that could be reflections from a small camera lens. The most likely places for them to be hidden are rooms in which people remove their clothes. Smoke detectors are prime locations, as are vents, books, lamps, clocks, picture frames, decorative items, stuffed animals, and plants.
- Log into the guest Wi-Fi, then go to settings to see a list of connected devices. If that doesn’t work, you can try a third-party app to search for you (one such app is Wireless Network Watcher). If you are surprised to see devices listed that don’t match up with what you see in the property, they’re very possibly linked to hidden cameras.
- When cameras are not hooked up to Wi-Fi, you still may be able to locate them by setting your phone’s Bluetooth to pairing mode to see the devices available. Mystery devices are a definite red flag!
- Purchase an app that is designed specifically to aid in the search for hidden cameras.
What to Do Upon Discovering Hidden Cameras
- The first thing you should do when you ascertain there are one or more hidden cameras in private spaces in an Airbnb or other vacation rental is to report the issue to the sponsoring agency and to the host. They are strictly prohibited, so you should detail your complaint and concerns thoroughly.
- Next, photograph or video the camera in the location in which it was discovered. Show surrounding materials, and make sure the time and date are noted for future legal action.
- Now it’s time to contact an attorney who understands privacy issues and personal injury, and who can advise you going forward.
Fight for Justice
If you’ve discovered that a rental property had hidden cameras spying on you, you know that the possibility of humiliating videos may cause you a lifetime of distress. Now is the time to fight for justice by pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, which could bring monetary relief to address your pain and suffering and more. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation with the experienced La Plata & Waldorf personal injury attorneys at The Law Office of Hammad S. Matin, P.A. today.
Source:
nbcsandiego.com/news/local/airbnb-guests-find-hidden-cameras-in-bathroom-bedroom-lawsuit/2109603/
