A Secret Beneath the Surface
During the Cold War, the CIA developed some of the strangest espionage tools ever conceived. Among hidden cameras and explosive cigars, one device stood out for both its ingenuity and absurdity: a fake scrotum. This prosthetic was not a joke. It was a real piece of spy equipment designed to conceal escape tools directly on an agent’s body in case of capture by enemy forces.
The Man Behind the Idea
The concept came from Tony Mendez, a CIA technical operations officer and disguise expert who later became known for the “Canadian Caper” that inspired the film Argo. In the 1960s and 1970s, Mendez and the CIA’s Office of Technical Services were tasked with creating new ways for agents to operate under deep cover. One major concern was how to hide escape tools where a search would be least expected.
How It Worked
The device, formally called the “scrotal concealment,” was a silicone prosthetic made to be worn over the male genitals. Inside it, agents could hide small metal tools such as wire saws or lock picks. It had to look, feel, and even move naturally, so the design went through several prototypes to pass visual inspection and potential pat-downs. The CIA’s testing division reportedly worked with medical prosthetics manufacturers to ensure realism. The concealment could be quickly removed in emergencies, giving agents access to tools they might otherwise have lost during a strip search.
Cold War Craftsmanship
The fake scrotum was only one of many body-mounted concealments created during that era. The CIA’s technical teams also produced false teeth containing microfilm, pens that could fire darts, and wigs capable of changing an agent’s appearance in seconds. Mendez later displayed the scrotal concealment as part of a larger lecture series on disguise and deception at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., where it remains among the most talked-about exhibits.
From Classified to Curious Exhibit
The existence of the fake scrotum was first publicly acknowledged after Mendez’s retirement, when declassified materials and interviews revealed the extent of Cold War disguise technology. By that time, the device had long since been retired from active use. Visitors who see it today are often surprised to learn it was a serious tool used by professional intelligence officers. Every component was built to save lives in the field, even if its appearance invites disbelief.
Cold War engineers in the CIA built a prosthetic scrotum to hide a tiny escape radio.
It was made to pass visual checks and quick searches.
The aim was to let captured pilots reach hidden gear even during strict inspections…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/H19nvvMaVU
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) October 19, 2025