Private Investigator receiving ‘hundreds’ of cases about secret recording devices
ABC News  Tampa Bay
Lauren Rozyla
10 October 2017

TAMPA - A couple was shocked to find a small camera, hidden in a smoke detector in their vacation rental condo in Longboat Key.

The couple told ABC Action News the camera captured at least one of them naked. The footage was all stored on an SD card inside the device.

Investigators say they rented the room from Wayne Natt, an Airbnb host. Investigators say Natt told them that everyone knew he had hidden cameras in his condo to record sex parties. Natt was arrested.

Security experts now say cameras can be easily hidden in everything from alarm clocks, light switches, exit signs, smoke detectors and even clothing and towel hooks in bathrooms.

Matt Aubin, a private investigator with Cyber Security Services in Tampa and Orlando, said he's received hundreds of complaints from people who have found themselves secretly recorded.

"They discovered photos of themselves either in intimate activities or doing things like showering, going to the bathroom or changing," Aubin said.

He also said they are becoming easier and cheaper to get over the internet and in local stores. "You can buy them for as little as $20 and there's virtually no sign there's a camera inside these things," he said.

CTS Camera in Tampa was able to show ABC Action News the range in technology. While they do not sell things like pen cameras, they do have certain cameras that are considered more hidden in every day objects.

John Vargas, owner of CTS Camera To Secure, showed us what appears to be desk lamp. However, the "light bulb" has a full 360 degree lens and a two-way microphone.

"People don't know it's a real camera," he said.

Unfortunately, Aubin says there may not be much you could really do.

"The only way you could really possibly ascertain that is if you smashed it with a hammer," he said.

However, when staying in a vacation rental, you are often staying in someone's home and that is not an easy one to explain, he said.

As a result, Aubin said the best thing you can do is keep your guard up.

"Be aware of the fact that there could be cameras that are present at any and all times," he said.

 Authorities say Airbnb told investigators they have only ever seen one other case of video voyeurism that they know of.

Natt has bonded out of jail. However, investigators say his Airbnb listing was active for two years and there could be hundreds of victims.

top   contents   appendix   previous   next