I Found a Camera in
While staying at an Airbnb, my wife noticed a blinking light on the smoke detector. When I unscrewed the cover to investigate, I was horrified to find a small lens—a hidden camera. Sickened, we packed our bags immediately and left without a word.
From a diner parking lot in another town, I wrote a harsh review to warn future guests. The host replied almost instantly, calling me a fool and claiming it was a transmitter for a private security system. The message ominously warned that “they” would come looking for it since I had broken the device.
Alarmed, I reviewed the photos I had taken as evidence. In one image, I noticed a faint red dot glowing behind the curtain—a laser, likely a tracker. It became clear this was more than just a host spying on guests.
The rental wasn’t a real vacation property—it was a front. Its purpose was surveillance, gathering information, and waiting. We didn’t return or contact the host again. Instead, we drove three more hours to a city hotel.
There, I destroyed the cheap phone I had used to make the booking. The next day, I filed a police report, though I doubted it would lead to anything.
Lying awake that night, I realized how fragile our sense of safety can be. We rely on five-star reviews and polished listings, assuming we’re secure.
But sometimes, the walls that promise comfort are only a disguise. And a blinking light isn’t always a warning—it can be a trap.
