TSCM Inspection: Protecting Against Listening Devices and Hidden Cameras

A confidential board meeting. A sensitive negotiation. A private conversation in your own home. You assume nobody is listening. But how certain are you?

Listening devices are smaller, cheaper, and more readily available than ever. A hidden microphone fits inside a power socket. A spy camera sits in a smoke detector. A GPS tracker sticks under your bumper. Anyone who wants to can buy one — and it happens more often than you think.

A TSCM inspection brings these threats to light. In this article, we explain what TSCM entails, what equipment we deploy, where we search — and why choosing the right agency makes all the difference.

What is a TSCM inspection?

TSCM stands for Technical Surveillance Countermeasures. It is the professional term for detecting and neutralising listening devices, hidden cameras, GPS trackers, and other unwanted recording equipment.

A TSCM inspection — also known as a “bug sweep” — combines physical inspection with advanced electronic detection. The objective: to establish whether your space, vehicle, or equipment is “clean”, or whether unwanted surveillance is taking place.

SAJ Recherche Amsterdam conducts TSCM inspections with professional counter-surveillance equipment. We work for businesses, law firms, private individuals, and real estate professionals throughout the Netherlands — from Amsterdam, but also in Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen, and any other location.

Why should you consider a TSCM sweep?

Surveillance technology is no longer the stuff of films. It is reality. Modern surveillance equipment is compact, affordable, and simple to install. At the same time, this equipment is virtually impossible to detect without specialised tools.

There are several situations where a TSCM inspection is advisable — or essential:

• Corporate espionage: confidential strategic, financial, or legal information is leaking to competitors or third parties.
• Sensitive negotiations: during mergers, acquisitions, tenders, or legal disputes, information security is critical.
• Executive offices and boardrooms: where the most sensitive decisions are made, the risk of surveillance is greatest.
• Law firms: legal professional privilege requires that confidential communication with clients is protected.
• Private situations: stalking, divorce, custody disputes, or suspicions that someone is bugging your home or vehicle.
• Hospitality and real estate: hotels, holiday homes, and rental properties where guests or tenants have the right to privacy.
• After a break-in or maintenance visit: when third parties have had access to your premises, a check is prudent.
• Periodic prevention: organisations with a high risk profile have regular sweeps as part of their security policy.

What do we look for during a TSCM inspection?

During a professional TSCM sweep, we search for all forms of unwanted surveillance equipment. The technology evolves constantly — and so do our detection methods. These are the most common threats:

Listening devices

• Hidden microphones in power sockets, furniture, pens, computer mice, or light fittings
• GSM transmitters that stream conversations live via the mobile network
• Audio recording devices with internal storage (voice recorders)
• Modified telephones or telephone exchanges functioning as listening devices

Hidden cameras

• Pinhole cameras: minuscule lenses built into everyday objects
• Wi-Fi cameras that stream images to an external device
• Cameras hidden in smoke detectors, clocks, mirrors, or ventilation grilles
• IP cameras connected to the company network

GPS trackers and tracking systems

• Magnetic GPS trackers under vehicles
• Trackers in bags, suitcases, or personal belongings
• Tracking software on phones or laptops

Digital threats

• Spyware and malware on laptops, phones, and tablets
• Compromised Wi-Fi networks
• Keystroke loggers (hardware or software)
• Unsecured Bluetooth connections

Unsure whether your premises are secure? Contact us

Call or WhatsApp +31 20 782 3222 for a confidential assessment. We will advise whether a TSCM inspection is appropriate in your situation.

What equipment do we use?

SAJ Recherche Amsterdam works with professional, military-grade TSCM equipment. Below is an overview of the detection technologies we deploy:

Spectrum analysis

Using electronic spectrum analysers, we scan the full frequency spectrum from 10 kHz to 24 GHz. Within seconds, we detect suspicious radio transmissions, GSM signals, Wi-Fi streams, and Bluetooth connections. This covers both known and unknown signals.

Non-Linear Junction Detection (NLJD)

An NLJD detects electronic components — even when they are switched off. Devices that “piggyback” on genuine electronic equipment (phones, computers) are thus detected, even if they emit no signal.

Telephone line analysis

Specialised equipment tests telephone lines for voltage, current, resistance, and capacitance. Using digital demodulation technology, we detect whether your telephone exchange has been converted into a listening system.

Camera lens detection

Using optical detectors, we locate extremely small pinhole cameras: both wired and wireless models, regardless of whether they are on or off. The principle: red light is reflected back by the lens of the hidden camera.

Visual inspection

In addition to electronic detection, we carry out physical inspection using pole cameras (for high ceilings and light fittings), borescopes (for inaccessible cavities and openings), and UV lamps (which reveal re-plastered or re-painted wall sections where equipment may have been concealed).

Mobile and wireless detection

Using cellular activity monitors, we detect hidden GSM transmitters on 3G, 4G, and 5G. Bluetooth detectors and Wi-Fi analysers complete the picture of the wireless threat landscape in your environment.

Where do we conduct TSCM sweeps?

The location determines the approach. We tailor each inspection to the specific risks of the premises. These are the most common locations:

Offices and boardrooms

Meeting rooms, executive offices, and boardrooms are priority number one. This is where the most sensitive decisions are made and the risk of targeted surveillance is greatest.

Secretariats and personal assistants

The workspaces of personal assistants and secretaries are priority number two. They have access to confidential diaries, documents, and communications.

Common areas

Toilets, lifts, coffee corners, and other communal spaces are often overlooked. Yet it is precisely here that sensitive conversations frequently take place — and precisely here that a device is easily placed.

Phones, laptops, and electronic devices

Phones and computers are regularly converted into listening equipment. We check all electronic devices for spyware, hardware implants, and unauthorised modifications.

Vehicles

Business and private vehicles are scanned for GPS trackers and hidden microphones. Particularly important for sensitive travel movements or when you suspect you are being followed.

Homes and private spaces

In cases of stalking, divorce, or privacy concerns, we check homes for hidden cameras, microphones, and tracking equipment. Your home should be a safe place.

Hotels and holiday properties

In our hospitality service, we check hotel rooms, suites, and holiday properties for hidden cameras and listening equipment — for guests who want certainty, or for owners who want to protect their property.

How does a TSCM inspection work at SAJ Recherche?

Step 1 — Confidential intake

You call or message us. We discuss your situation, the reason for concern, and the type of location. Based on this, we determine the threat level and the approach. This conversation is fully confidential and without obligation.

Step 2 — Planning and quotation

We prepare an inspection plan, tailored to the layout of the building, the number of rooms, and the specific risks. You receive a transparent quotation. A TSCM sweep can take place during the day or at night, depending on what is least conspicuous.

Step 3 — TSCM inspection

We carry out the inspection with the full range of detection equipment: spectrum analysis, NLJD, camera lens detection, telephone line analysis, physical inspection, and digital checks. Each room is systematically searched.

Step 4 — Report and recommendations

Afterwards, you receive a professional report with our findings, any threats identified, and concrete recommendations. If we find equipment, we discuss the next steps: removal, evidence preservation for a police report, or a broader counter-surveillance strategy.

Why choose SAJ Recherche Amsterdam?

TSCM is specialist work. Choosing the wrong agency can actually put your privacy at risk. What should you look for?

• Licence and certification: SAJ Recherche holds POB licence 8779 from the Ministry of Justice and Security. All investigators hold the Private Investigator diploma (SVPB) and a yellow identification card issued by the police.
• Professional equipment: we work with professional, military-grade detection equipment — not consumer electronics.
• Fully confidential: we are bound by professional secrecy and the Privacy Code of Conduct of the Dutch Security Branch.
• Single point of contact: you communicate directly with the investigator conducting your inspection.
• Nationwide coverage: from Amsterdam, we are immediately available throughout the Netherlands, including evenings and weekends.
• Legally admissible: our reports and evidence preservation meet the requirements for use in legal proceedings.

Outsourcing TSCM services requires trust. You are giving an agency access to your most sensitive spaces and information. Therefore, choose an agency with a proven track record, a statutory licence, and a transparent working method.

Request a TSCM inspection? Contact us

Call or WhatsApp: +31 20 782 3222. We come discreetly, quickly, and at a time that suits you.

Frequently asked questions about TSCM inspections

What does a TSCM inspection cost?

The costs depend on the size of the location, the number of rooms, and the desired inspection level. After a confidential intake, you receive a transparent, tailored quotation.

How quickly can a TSCM sweep take place?

In urgent cases, we are often available within 24 hours. Regular inspections are scheduled at a time that suits you — including evenings and weekends.

Will my employees or neighbours notice the inspection?

We work with the utmost discretion. A TSCM sweep can take place outside office hours, and we arrive in neutral clothing without conspicuous vehicles.

What if you find something?

We discuss the findings with you immediately. Depending on the situation, we advise on removal, evidence preservation, filing a police report, or broader security measures.

Is a TSCM inspection legal?

Yes. Having your own premises, vehicles, and equipment checked for unwanted surveillance is entirely legal. In fact, it is a responsible security measure.

How often should I have a sweep done?

That depends on your risk profile. High-risk organisations have periodic sweeps (monthly or quarterly). After an incident, personnel change, or renovation, an additional inspection is advisable.

Can you also check my phone or laptop?

Yes. We check electronic devices for spyware, malware, hardware implants, and unauthorised modifications. This is a standard part of a comprehensive TSCM inspection.