What to Know
Vacations are supposed to be a time of rest, relaxation, fun times with friends, and making memories with our families. But for one young woman, her getaway to Morocco became the stuff of a nightmare when she discovered a hidden camera disguised as a picture frame in her Airbnb’s bathroom.
TikTok user Pauline (@himynamespaul_) shared her experience in a series of videos that quickly went viral, racking up almost 20 million views combined. The content creator was on vacation with friends in a luxury home in Marrakesh. So luxurious, in fact, the rental home came with daily cook and maid service, along with live-in security in the home’s basement.
On the third day of their trip, the group returned from a day out and headed to the showers to get ready for dinner.
This is when Pauline noticed something odd in her bathroom. A picture frame with a Yorkie puppy, something that hadn’t been there before, suddenly appeared on a shelf above the bathtub.
Stranger still, she noticed it was pointing directly toward the shower.
While she was showering.
Shocked by her discovery and trusting her gut, Pauline looked closer. She called in her fellow travel guests to help her inspect what she found. Shining a flashlight into the frame, they revealed what appeared to be a tiny circular camera lens beneath the plastic. On the back, she found markings for an SD card slot, a USB port, and even an on/off switch. In the frame? The generic paper image it was sold with.
That frame wasn’t a cute decoration. It was a hidden surveillance device.
Even more unsettling and confirmed with her own video evidence, she noted that the same frame had been in a different bathroom when they first arrived, which meant someone had moved it.
The comment section on Pauline’s videos lit up.
One viewer commented, “I guarantee you that’s not the only one, that’s just the one you found. Call the cops!”
Another shocked TikTok user wrote, “Absolute nightmare. 😭😭😭”
Others praised her for paying attention, “I’m so impressed how observant you are and confident because I doubt I would have noticed it or if I did I would have gaslit myself.”
As a frequent Airbnb user, this detail sends chills down my spine. The thought of a stranger entering a space where you and your friends and loved ones should feel safe, and potentially recording you in your most intimate, private moments, is terrifying.
Pauline and her friends acted quickly and immediately contacted local police.
In a later update, Pauline confirmed that the Airbnb host was taken into custody, the listing was removed, and she planned to pursue legal action. For now, she cannot share more details until the court case concludes.
Her story sparked outrage online. While many people rushed to support her, some commenters expressed disbelief. But Pauline pointed out that these types of devices are shockingly easy to find. “Literally on Amazon it’s called a spy frame,” she said.
A quick search backs her up.
Hidden cameras are sold openly, disguised as everything from picture frames to smoke detectors, and can cost as little as $30..
As parents, this is a wake-up call. When we travel with our children, safety is always our top priority. While hidden cameras might seem like something out of a spy movie, they are a real and growing issue.
Vacations should be about joy, not fear.
But Pauline’s story is an important reminder that we can’t take privacy for granted, even in spaces that are supposed to feel like home. As mothers, we teach our kids to be aware of their surroundings. Now it’s time we apply that same vigilance to the places we stay, too.
