A method for discovering the presence of hidden neighbor mobile devices in a common environment is disclosed. A given mobile unit is moved into a common environment with the given mobile device having a unique identifier associated therewith. The common environment is scanned within a scan range associated with the given mobile device. The presence of broadcasting devices scanned by the given mobile device is detected and identification information received therefrom. The received identification information is transmitted to a central location in addition to the unique identifier. The given mobile device receives from the central location information about a hidden mobile unit that is not scannable by the given mobile device, but can scan other broadcast devices in the common environment, which information provides an indication that the hidden mobile unit had previously scanned at least one of the broadcast devices scanned by the given mobile device.