Are Fake Security Cameras Right for You?

I’ve been thinking about the value of getting some fake security cameras lately. It isn’t that anything in particular has started me thinking about home security, surveillance spy cameras, or dummy cams. I think it is the psychology of fake security cameras that fascinates me. You see, I recently was talking to my neighbor about nothing in particular while we stood in our front yards. I had noticed a couple of years ago that he had two home security signs in his front yard that warned people that the premises was protected by some home security company or another. I can’t remember the name now, but it doesn’t matter anyway. Just to make small talk, I asked him how much he had to pay a month for the service. He looked around like we were in the middle of a giant conspiracy plot and shared the fact that he did not have an actual security system, just the signs.

The fact is, the signs had been enough to fool me.  I had never really looked closely before, but there were not even any dummy security cameras mounted anywhere on his home.  I had just seen the signs and assumed that there were closed circuit TV cameras pointing at me from some unseen location.

I wondered if would be criminals studied up before heading out so that they could spot the fake signs. I came to the conclusion that some might, but most probably would see the signs and then move on to the next available house without a sign. That can breed a bit of paranoia when you happen to live in that house next door.

Who is Using Fake Security Cameras Already?

In the building where I work, there are what appear to be dome security cameras all over the place. I’ve never seen the “control room” where these all show the fabulous daily coverage of employees moving through their daily paces, but I have always assumed that someone, somewhere had access to the images of me walking from place to place as I passed each dome camera in succession.  It is enough to keep me from doing anything too potentially embarrassing in the hallway. What if they are really just fake security cameras? Well, I’m not willing to roll the dice on that one. I wouldn’t want to show up on a funniest video segment at the office Christmas party as I scratched an untimely itch or spontaneously decided to practice my moonwalking skills on closed circuit TV.

What’s funny is, after my talk with the neighbor, I became a bit obsessed with fake security cameras, as well as real ones.  I assume that there really are cctv cameras in the domes seen in major retail outlets.  They have got to work to some extent for deterring shoplifters.  All I know is, I started noticing cameras pretty much every time I went out anywhere.  Were they all “real”?  I have no idea.  The security cameras I managed to spot could have just been camera housings with a red light on the front.

So I started doing a bit of research. It turns out that there are MANY dummy home security cameras that do nothing more than hang from the ceiling. With the advent of wireless security cameras, not seeing any dangling wires is no longer a give-away that a camera is a prop. Just as a side note, you don’t even want to know about the spy camera technology that is available today. If you are the paranoid type, you will never want to change your clothes again, anywhere!

Anyway, some of the fake security cameras available today are quite convincing. There are even models available with a built in, flashing LED light. What surprised me most was the cost of these non-functional outdoor home security cameras. They are honestly dirt cheap. Because they do not actually do anything, they do not need constantly maintained and the cost is relatively low.

Fake Security Cameras are a Great Low Cost Option

When it comes to home security, we all want to protect ourselves. Sometimes it comes down to a matter of economics coming into play. While I would personally prefer having a “live” home security system, I have to wonder how effective the dummy cameras are because they are so much cheaper than buying, installing and maintaining the real deal cameras.  One thing is for sure, and that is that fake security cameras are much easier for an average homeowner to afford than a “real” security system.