The Best Dummy CCTV Cameras For Deterring Intruders
Fake bullet and dome cameras that make a property look like a harder target.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best dummy CCTV cameras is the Tech Traders TTBSDC Dummy CCTV. A small solar panel keeps its red LED flashing, so there are no batteries to change on an outside wall, and the fake wiring and fixings come in the box. If you don't mind swapping AA batteries now and then, the BW 1100B Dummy CCTV Camera does a similar job for less.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Tech Traders TTBSDC Dummy CCTV
Best Overall
Tech Traders TTBSDC Dummy CCTVOutdoor walls where you want a flashing light without changing batteries
- Check price of BW 1100B Dummy CCTV Camera
Best Value
BW 1100B Dummy CCTV CameraBudget bullet camera with a flashing light for front or side walls
- Check price of Swann Dummy Security Camera
Best Branded
Swann Dummy Security CameraSitting alongside real Swann cameras or anywhere a brand name helps
- Check price of Smartwares CDM-38103 Dummy Camera
Best Professional Lookalike
Smartwares CDM-38103 Dummy CameraEntrances where a camera that moves when someone approaches adds impact
- Check price of KWMobile Fake CCTV Security Camera
Best Dome
KWMobile Fake CCTV Security CameraPorch ceilings, hallways and shops where a dome looks natural
- Check price of BW Fake CCTV Camera Hanging Dome
Best Hanging Dome
BW Fake CCTV Camera Hanging DomeSoffits and high walls where a pendant-style dome looks right
- Check price of TOROTON Dome Fake Security Camera
Best Budget
TOROTON Dome Fake Security CameraCovering several spots cheaply around a house, garage or business
Realism is what you're paying for, as a fake works only if it passes for the real thing. A flashing light keeps it convincing after dark, and solar power saves climbing a ladder to swap the AAs. Height counts too, because cheap plastic gives itself away at arm's length.
The Swann dome at the top of this page is one of ours. Like every dummy it records nothing, so we pair fakes with a real outdoor security camera rather than relying on them alone. The seven below run from a four-pack of budget domes to a motion-activated lookalike.
How We Tested These Dummy CCTV Cameras
Across the properties we own and manage, we've put up cameras in plenty of vulnerable spots. Not all of them are real. Wiring a real camera to every corner would be expensive and a lot of work, so we mix in dummies where a visible camera is enough to make someone think again.
We've used a mix of bullet and dome dummies over the years. Every one had to meet two requirements. It needed to look as realistic as possible, and it needed a flashing light to act as a further deterrent after dark.
Beyond that, we looked at build quality, what fixings came in the box and how easy each one is to install. Size, power source and extra touches like fake cables or motion sensors made up the rest of the score. Specs such as sensor range and weather ratings come from the manufacturers.
The Best Dummy CCTV Cameras We Recommend
There are bullet and dome styles below, with and without flashing lights. Pick the style that matches any real cameras you already have so the fakes blend in.
Best Overall
Tech Traders TTBSDC Dummy CCTV
Best for: Outdoor walls where you want a flashing light without changing batteries
Check Price On AmazonThe Tech Traders TTBSDC is a weatherproof bullet camera that looks the part, with a dark housing, fake wiring and a red LED that flashes like a real camera's status light. The LED runs off a small built-in solar panel, so on an outside wall there are no batteries to swap. Indoors, it can run on batteries instead.
The box includes the camera, a mounting bracket, masonry plugs and three screws, which is everything you need for a brick wall. Tech Traders builds it from durable, weatherproof plastic, so it's made to live outside. It costs a little more than some of the others here, but the solar light saves the faff of getting the ladder out every time the batteries run flat.
What we like
- Solar panel powers the flashing LED outside
- Runs on batteries when used indoors
- Fake wiring adds realism
- Mounting bracket, plugs and screws included
- Weatherproof for indoor or outdoor use
What to know
- Costs more than the BW 1100B
Our verdict
An outside wall where you never want to think about batteries is the right home for the Tech Traders TTBSDC. Everything you need to get it on the wall is in the box, and once it's up there's nothing to maintain. It costs a little more than the BW 1100B, which is the cheaper bullet if you're happy changing AA batteries.
Best Value
BW 1100B Dummy CCTV Camera
Best for: Budget bullet camera with a flashing light for front or side walls
Check Price On AmazonThe BW 1100B is a battery-powered bullet camera that does most of what the Tech Traders does for less money. It's suitable indoors or out and has a convincing shape, an authentic-looking video cable and fake wiring, with a bright red LED to draw the eye at night.
The bracket is fully adjustable, and the camera rotates through 360 degrees, so you can aim it at a driveway, gate or door from almost any wall. Power comes from two AA batteries rather than solar, so you'll need to get up to it to change them now and then. Put it somewhere you can reach with a stepladder.
What we like
- Lower price than the Tech Traders
- Realistic bullet shape with a fake video cable
- Fully adjustable bracket
- Rotates through 360 degrees
- Bright red flashing LED
What to know
- Runs on two AA batteries with no solar option
Our verdict
Pick the BW 1100B if you want a realistic bullet camera on a budget and don't mind swapping batteries. If the camera's going high up where battery changes are a pain, the solar-powered Tech Traders TTBSDC is worth the extra.
Best Branded
Swann Dummy Security Camera
Best for: Sitting alongside real Swann cameras or anywhere a brand name helps
Check Price On AmazonSwann is a well-known name in home CCTV, and its dummy camera carries the same branding. With the Swann name printed on both sides, it looks more like a real camera than an unbranded fake, especially to someone who knows what to look for. Our own Swann dummy, a dome version, is in the photo up top.
The bullet camera listed here is built from good-quality plastic and comes with fixings. It has no lights, sensors or batteries, which means nothing to maintain, but it's less noticeable after dark than the models with a flashing LED. It also costs more than most dummies in this list.
What we like
- Swann branding on both sides adds realism
- Good-quality plastic housing
- Fixings supplied
- No batteries to replace
What to know
- No light so it is less visible at night
- Dearer than most dummies here
Our verdict
Choose the Swann if you already run real Swann cameras or want a branded dummy that looks genuine in daylight. If night-time visibility matters more, the Tech Traders TTBSDC or BW 1100B both have a flashing LED for less money.
Best Professional Lookalike
Smartwares CDM-38103 Dummy Camera
Best for: Entrances where a camera that moves when someone approaches adds impact
Check Price On AmazonThe Smartwares CDM-38103 goes further than a static dummy. It has a built-in PIR motion sensor, and Smartwares says the camera follows movement up to 3 metres away, which is far more unsettling for anyone at the door than a camera that just sits there.
It's built from durable plastic with an IP44 rating according to the brand, so it's fine for a sheltered outdoor spot as well as indoors. There's a flashing red LED and all the mounting accessories are in the box. It's one of the dearest and largest cameras in this list, so it suits a front door or driveway rather than a small side window.
What we like
- Built-in PIR motion sensor
- Follows movement up to 3 metres according to Smartwares
- Flashing red LED
- IP44 rated for indoor and outdoor use
- Mounting accessories included
What to know
- One of the most expensive dummies in this list
- Larger than most of the other cameras
Our verdict
A camera that turns to follow someone as they approach makes the biggest impression at a main entrance, and that's the Smartwares CDM-38103's party trick. It's also the dearest and one of the bulkiest, so smaller spots are better served by the BW 1100B.
Best Dome
KWMobile Fake CCTV Security Camera
Best for: Porch ceilings, hallways and shops where a dome looks natural
Check Price On AmazonThe KWMobile is a white dome dummy with a realistic design and a flashing red LED for night-time. Dome cameras are compact and sit neatly on a ceiling or under a porch canopy, which is where real domes go, so it blends in well.
It's suitable indoors and out and comes with fixings. The finish and the extra detail in the design make it look more convincing than the cheaper domes in this list, though it costs a bit more than them. A dome also hides which way the lens is pointing, which makes it harder for anyone to work out a blind spot.
What we like
- Realistic dome design in white
- Flashing red LED for night-time
- Indoor and outdoor use
- Fixings included
- Hides which way the lens points
What to know
- Dearer than the TOROTON and BW domes
Our verdict
The KWMobile is the dome to buy when realism matters, such as a porch ceiling by the front door. If you need several domes on a budget, the TOROTON four-pack is far cheaper per camera. The BW hanging dome suits spots where you need it to drop below a soffit.
Best Hanging Dome
BW Fake CCTV Camera Hanging Dome
Best for: Soffits and high walls where a pendant-style dome looks right
Check Price On AmazonThe BW hanging dome sits on an adjustable bracket rather than flat against a surface, so you can angle it down from a soffit or the top of a wall. That pendant look is common on real commercial systems, and it makes the camera more visible from the ground than a flush dome.
There's no wiring, three mounting screws are included, and a red light flashes every second so it stands out at night. BW also includes a warning sticker for a window or gate. The build quality isn't as good as the KWMobile up close, but from the ground it still looks convincing, and it's an affordable way to add a hanging dome.
What we like
- Adjustable bracket for angling the dome
- Red LED flashes every second
- Warning sticker included
- Three mounting screws supplied
- No wiring needed
What to know
- Build quality is basic up close
Our verdict
Soffits and high walls suit the BW hanging dome, where the pendant look reads like a real commercial camera from the street, and it's an affordable way to get that look with a warning sticker thrown in. In a porch where people stand right underneath it, the KWMobile dome is the better-made choice.
Best Budget
TOROTON Dome Fake Security Camera
Best for: Covering several spots cheaply around a house, garage or business
Check Price On AmazonThe TOROTON domes come as a pack of four, which keeps the cost per camera very low. They're black domes with a single flashing red LED, suitable indoors and out, and they mount without any wiring.
Four cameras let you cover the front, back, garage and side gate in one go, which suits a rental or a small business where you want cameras visible at every entrance. They're simple domes without the extra detail of the KWMobile, so they look best mounted high where nobody can study them closely. The pack of four is the only way to buy them.
What we like
- Pack of four keeps the cost per camera low
- Flashing red LED on each dome
- No wiring to mount
- Indoor and outdoor use
- Black finish suits dark soffits
What to know
- Only sold as a pack of four
- Less detailed than the KWMobile dome
Our verdict
The TOROTON four-pack is the answer when you've several entrances to cover on a small budget, as each dome works out at a fraction of the cost of the premium models. For a single camera by the front door, the KWMobile dome looks more convincing.
Getting The Most From A Dummy CCTV Camera
A dummy camera only works if it looks real to the person you're trying to put off. Here's what to think about before buying and fitting one.
Dome Or Bullet Style
Bullet cameras are long and obvious, which makes them the stronger deterrent on an outside wall facing a drive or gate. Domes are smaller and suit ceilings, porches and soffits, and they hide which way they're pointing. If you have real cameras already, match their style and colour so the fakes don't stand out as different.
Lights And Power
A flashing LED makes the camera visible at night, which is when most people worry about break-ins. Solar power saves you changing batteries, while AA-powered models need checking now and then. A camera with a dead light looks broken, which defeats the point, so put battery models somewhere you can reach.
Where To Mount It
Fit the camera high enough that it can't be reached or studied up close, ideally out of arm's reach under a soffit or at the top of a wall. Point it where a real camera would, at doors, gates and drives. Close-up, cheap plastic gives the game away, so height helps any dummy look more convincing. Fixing into brick needs a good masonry drill bit and the plugs supplied.
Make It Look Like A System
One lonely camera looks less convincing than a few, especially alongside a warning sign. Pair dummies with things that do work, such as motion-sensor security lights and a video doorbell at the front door. A real camera covering the most likely entry point, with dummies elsewhere, gives you footage where it matters and deterrence everywhere else.
Know The Limits
A dummy won't record anything, alert you or help the police. For homes that are empty for long periods, such as holiday lets between bookings, a proper home alarm system gives far more protection. Use dummy cameras as a cheap extra layer, not as your only security. The same goes for outbuildings, where a loud shed alarm will actually make a noise if someone tries the door.
Common Questions About Fake CCTV
Do dummy CCTV cameras actually deter burglars?
Dummy CCTV cameras deter opportunist burglars who see a camera and choose an easier target. They work best when they look realistic, are mounted high and sit alongside other security such as lights and an alarm. An experienced burglar can spot a cheap fake up close, which is why height and a convincing design matter.
Are fake security cameras legal in the UK?
Yes, fake security cameras are legal in the UK on your own property. Because a dummy camera doesn't record, data protection rules for CCTV footage don't apply in the same way. Pointing one straight into a neighbour's garden or window can still cause disputes, so aim it at your own doors, drive and gates.
How do you make a dummy camera look real?
To make a dummy camera look real, mount it high and out of reach, point it at an entrance where a real camera would go and choose a model with a fake cable or flashing light. Run the fake cable into the wall or along a soffit. Mixing dummies with a real camera or a video doorbell makes the whole setup more believable.
How long do the batteries last in a dummy camera?
Battery life in a dummy camera depends on the model and the flash rate of the LED, so check the manufacturer's guidance. Solar-powered models like the Tech Traders TTBSDC avoid the issue outdoors. For AA-powered cameras such as the BW 1100B, check the light is still flashing every few weeks, as a dead LED makes the camera look fake.
Is the Tech Traders TTBSDC worth paying more for than the BW 1100B?
The Tech Traders is worth the extra on a high outside wall, because its flashing LED runs off a built-in solar panel and there are no batteries to swap. The BW 1100B costs less, looks realistic and rotates through 360 degrees, but it runs on two AA batteries, so put it somewhere you can reach with a stepladder.
Is the Smartwares CDM-38103 dummy camera worth the money?
It's worth it at a main entrance. The built-in PIR motion sensor makes the camera follow movement up to 3 metres away according to Smartwares, which is more unsettling than a static dummy. It also has a flashing red LED and an IP44 rating. It's one of the dearest and largest in our list, so smaller spots suit the BW 1100B better.
Which dummy camera would you buy to cover several entrances?
The TOROTON four-pack is the budget way to do it, as the pack of four keeps the cost per camera low and covers the front, back, garage and side gate. Each dome has a flashing red LED and mounts without wiring. They're simple domes, so fit them high where nobody can study them closely.
Is the Swann dummy camera worth paying extra for?
Only if the Swann name matters to you. The branding on both sides makes it look more genuine in daylight, especially next to real Swann cameras. It has no light or batteries, so it's less noticeable after dark, and it costs more than most dummies in our list. The Tech Traders and BW 1100B both have a flashing LED for less.
The Dummy Cameras We Would Fit
The Tech Traders TTBSDC is the dummy camera we'd put on an outside wall, as it looks convincing and the solar-powered LED keeps flashing without battery changes. The BW 1100B is the cheaper bullet alternative if you're happy to swap AA batteries.
For porches and ceilings, the KWMobile dome looks the most realistic, and the TOROTON four-pack is the budget way to cover several spots at once.
Richard has spent years renovating properties and turning them into rentals and Airbnbs. Like a lot of people he started out as a beginner, and these days there isn't much DIY he won't take on.