As the name suggests a fake security camera is only to prevent any chance of theft or burglar activity. Its sole purpose is to discourage potential criminals or thieves from trespassing, vandalism, etc. Installing a faux or a decoy camera is very low maintenance and affordable. But a burglar who is very cautious will be able to identify a fake one if not properly placed. They just have to check if it’s on or off. Here are the ways to spot a fake security camera.
Methods To Find A Fake Security Camera+
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Most people opt for fake security cameras because these are low-cost installation devices and they are relatively cheaper. It is kept to create an illusion in the eyes of potential burglars or criminals. Although it works in some cases the far experienced thieves or burglars can easily spot the fake ones. There are some spots that can help you in identifying a fake security camera.
1. Lights
This is one of the prominent fake elements you will find in a decoy-based security camera. It is mainly used to drive attention hoping that it will prevent any unwanted trouble. Actual security cameras don’t have these blinking lights in them because these lights don’t help in capturing or storing any security data.
You can spot a faint red light during the night in real units as that helps in capturing the night vision. Therefore, if you see a light glowing and blinking in a security camera it’s a dummy camera. Old cameras may have them but it’s hard to find now in modern real cameras.
2. Cables
Cable is one component which you will see in both i.e., fake and rear cameras. But you could determine the type by its thickness, if you see the wires coming out of the camera is thin then it is a fake camera.
Because the actual security camera uses a thick wire to transmit power and to transfer data. The fake or dummy cameras keep thinner cables because it does nothing so they use cheaper cables.
Also, the actual cameras do have a single cable that works for both transmission of power and transferring data, unlike old cameras which used to have not more than two cables.
Since the old cameras are very rare nowadays if you see a camera that looks brand new but has multiple cables is definitely a fake security camera.
3. Swivelling Motion
To mimic the genuineness of an actual camera some dummy cameras are designed to rotate. So sometimes it will be confusing to determine if it’s a fake one given the swivelling motion. To determine if it’s an actual security camera you will have to look at the details because the real camera that has this feature is most expensive. So, if you see a camera swivelling at regular intervals or randomly, and it looks affordable or cheap then it will be a fake camera.
4. Wi-Fi Search
The simplest way to identify if a security camera is fake or real is to look for Wi-fi connectivity. Move close to the camera and turn on your Wi-fi menu and look for the Wi-fi signal on your phone. If the phone detects the Wi-fi signal then it’s a real security camera, on the other hand, if it’s a fake one it will not be able to show its Wi-fi signal.
5. Branding
You can easily identify a fake security camera through its brand name and logo. You will find that there is no similarity in its brand name and logo. Whereas legit security cameras make their branding recognized.
Some dummy camera manufacturers forget to put branding in order to avoid trademark issues but real security camera companies will not hide their branding because they are working in a legitimate system and they are confident of their production. If you find brand names like ARMO and WALI then there’s a great possibility that these are fake.
6. Apps For Camera Detection
You can also take the help of the Google play store for verifying if a security camera is fake or real. On the play store, there are various apps that are designed to detect fake or decoy security cameras near you. Besides telling you the authenticity of a security camera these apps will also tell you if these cameras are in working conditions.
So, if you want to find out simply look for apps that detect fake security cameras and install the app. Open the app and look for security cameras nearby you. If it shows nothing then there are no real cameras installed.
7. Build Quality
The authenticity of any hardware can be determined by just simply touching or lifting it. The same goes for the fake security cameras as you will see the build quality which is mainly made of some cheap plastic materials, with no audio. The main objective of using cheap materials is to keep the cost of manufacturing as low as possible.
Real security camera manufacturing companies use aluminium material to make their products which will give them a sturdy look. So, to differentiate between a fake or a real camera is simply by observing if the camera looks professional.
8. Placement
The location or the place where a security camera can also help you in identifying if it’s a fake or real one. There are a few things you will notice in a real camera like the wires coming out of the camera go on moulding or through a pipe whereas a fake or a dummy camera will not have such appearance and it will be simply placed on the wall and the wires will be hardly taken care of as those are for creating an illusion.
Tools:
- Motion Sensor Floodlight
- Triggering Alarms
- Pet Dog
- Dummy Wires Or Cables
- Stickers Display Warning Messages
Materials: NA
Why Do People Install Fake Security Camera?
Many people prefer fake security cameras simply for saving costs but they are better than nothing. These dummy cameras are installed with the hope that they will be effective in preventing any burglar or theft activity.
Let’s say if an inexperienced thief is roaming around your property and looking for a way to enter, they might see the camera and decide that it’s not worth doing or it will be a risky thing to do. Another reason is that these fake dummy cameras are made of cheap materials so they are affordable at a very low cost in the market.
Because they don’t serve any real purposes like monitoring movements, capturing pictures, or any of such activities which a real security camera will do. Easy installation is another reason to opt for a fake security camera as I told you in my earlier point that it doesn’t serve any real purpose.
It is very much easier to set up these dummy cameras. Fake security often proves to be effective if seen from a distance and prevents any unwanted activity. Those who are inexperienced criminals or part-time thieves will clear themselves from these areas. If you want to increase the security of your place, you should prefer a good dummy camera under your budget.
Below you will find a quick breakdown of points discouraging the use of false security cameras:
- An experienced or a professional criminal will easily identify a fake security camera even from a distance.
- Because fake cameras often have a blinking light and that’s a clear indication that it’s a dummy security camera.
- By law, signs must be properly visible near the security cameras, and displaying these signs where fake cameras are installed will put you in legal trouble if any criminal activity happens in your area.
- In the short term, they may prove to be beneficial to you but they could actually put your property in real danger because they can get easily identified.
- So, these dummy or decoy cameras are good for nothing as they will not serve you any real purpose.
The presence of a security camera brings a sense of relief among the residents that if any wrong or suspicious activity happens it will get recorded in the cameras installed. The public can rightfully expect that this can be used as evidence. But if it is not able to do so then you are disclosing yourself to liability issues.
FAQ
1. Do Fake Security Cameras Look Real?
Fake security cameras referred to as dummy or decoy cameras are designed in such a way that they will give you a real impression. But nowadays they are easily identifiable due to some of the blind spots like Blinking lights, poor structure, cheap materials, appearance and wire placement, etc.
2. Is It Legal To Install A Fake Security Camera?
This argument carries different opinions among different people. Though there are no such laws that can prohibit you to install a fake security camera. But if the Board decides to do so, they should know that they have to be careful about the false sense of security.
Fake security cameras do give a quite close impression like a real security camera but they will not fulfil the real purposes of securing your area. But this article is nowhere encouraging you to install a fake security camera and why would you even want to put up a fake security camera if it’s not able to provide you with that sense of security.
3. Do Real Security Cameras Have Red Lights?
Most of the surveillance cameras don’t have a glowing or blinking red light. And even some real cameras have light but it’s not necessary that it has to be red and that can be easily turned off. Real cameras have infra-red lights so they could capture visions at night and many of those also appear red at night only.
4. Do Fake Security Cameras Deter Burglars?
Well, you can’t completely deny that to some extent they could help you in preventing or discouraging criminals but it will be able to fool mostly the naïve ones. Since they are not as good as real ones, it is likely to work on an inexperienced criminal.
Final Talk
Most people are aware of technologies now and they can easily recognize or tell if there is a fake security camera or real camera. The fact is that professional cameras are not easily affordable and it looks like a professional one. A fake system or a mechanism will not be able to provide evidence or alert you in event of a possible danger. Because experienced criminals usually notice a little lacking in your security arrangement and can take advantage of it.
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