Stories have circulated recently about a couple who were shocked to find a hidden camera in an Airbnb property that they had booked a vacation at. This recent case that took place in Toronto isn't the first instance that this has allegedly happened either, guests have previously complained about finding hidden cameras in their Airbnb locations before.

After the news recently went viral about a guest who found the camera in Toronto, the company responded by reportedly removing that host from their site and a police report has also allegedly been filed. The company has asserted that they have a zero tolerance policy for this sort of hidden camera behavior.

These cameras can be disguised in a myriad of ways and at times can be very difficult to locate. To find out if you're being recorded, Airbnb has suggested that guests could ask their hosts if they have any surveillance device that might be listening or watching; hoping they're going to be honest with you.

If you think this only happens at Airbnb locations and not at hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfasts etc, think again. They've been found there as well on numerous occasions.

At one motel in Colorado, an owner had recorded unsuspecting guests for decades through cameras in the vents.

Guests have found hidden cameras in a number of places, including Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and other areas.

Surveillance experts maintain that there is no financial incentive for hotel and motel companies etc to risk their reputation by conducting this sort of surveillance on their guests.

As well, what benefit is there to an Airbnb host to record because if they get caught they will lose that financial stream and could face criminal charges. Surveillance industry professionals admit that it's more likely high-profile individuals, such as celebrities or politicians etc, who are more likely to be targeted for this sort of surveillance than ordinary guests. Regardless, various people have found cameras recording them in numerous circumstances.

One expert in the field, Chris Falkenberg, who conducts hotel sweeps for celebrities to look for such devices, insists that the chances of being recorded are slim and that most people have nothing to worry about.

There are some things that you can do to try and locate such a camera after you've checked in.

Tech experts have suggested that tips might include looking for a green, blue, or red light to indicate that something is recording. These devices can often be installed in smoke detectors, picture frames, or in vents. Unplug coffee makers and disconnect alarm clocks, point the alarm clock away from the wall, cover any peephole that you come across, or look for unusual objects that might be plugged into the wall. Making an unexpected room change is another suggested tip that might help you to avoid landing in a room that's already been set up with recording devices.

Some apps are also available that claim to be able to help you find out whether or not you're being spied on. These are options like Glint Finder and Hidden Camera Detector that will use your own phone's camera to scan around the room and look for any camera lenses. Apps like Fing also enable you to scan the wifi network of the hotel that you might be staying at and you can look to see if there is some indication of what devices might be connected. There are also a variety of devices that you can purchase which are designed to help you sweep and search for hidden cameras.

You can also read reviews of the place that you're staying at to see if there is any history of such behavior taking place and if all that fails and you still need some peace of mind, there are services available for you to hire a professional who can scan the room for you to make sure that your privacy isn't being violated.

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