I noticed that a captcha is now appearing if you try to open more than one listing tab. I guess THS has taken note of many of us saying bots were being used to apply for sits. Not sure this will stop all bots but it makes it harder to use bots.
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What do you mean: when you scroll through the listings, and you see 2 or more that you like, then a captcha shows up before you can read the listing?
I just tried, but that did not seem to happen for me. And does that stop bots?
In that case it would make more sense to stick a captcha between “apply now” and the application page showing up. Or once you hit Send for your actual application
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When I opened a second tab of a THS listing before the listing opened details, it asked me to confirm I wasn’t a bot by clicking a box. I then got a captcha to complete before the listing opened for me.
I just opened multiple tabs with different listings and didn’t get a captcha.
Maybe they are testing. Brighter minds than mine might drop in here, but would that work on the app as well? Or just the desktop and mobile versions?
I have yet to see “real” evidence of this. Can you provide any? I’m genuinely interested.
LIstings that get 5 application within seconds of going live may indicate automated applications but if not certainly some form of monitoring for new listings outside of what THS offer.
There are complaints from owners about generic or even blank messages with applications. These may be just people trying to get an application done in a hurry but could also indicate automation.
I have seen a screenshot of an applciation where it was titled "Hello [user] " or somethign like that. [user] is somethign that you would use in a template that shoudl autofill the persons name form a script you are running that has then gone a little wrong
An owner reported having multiple identical applications from the same sitter. They would reject as not suitable, there listing would be unpaused and almost immediately they get the same application from the sitter again , repeated multipel times. While a person could just be retyring this also seems to indicate dautomated application tht is not able to detemine it has already been rejected . See available listing in desired area > apply.
A way to scan and alert for new listings is not trivial but perfectly doable for anyone slightly tech savvy. Automating the actual application, essentially clicking on the apply button, checking the dates and pasting in a message and click send, is much harder to do. Probably a lot more of the former than the latter happening.
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Agreed. I think the scaremongering around the use of bots isn’t realistic.
I think this thread is going off topic @Jenny
I got a captcha yesterday before letting me view the listing details but not getting it today. I’ll screenshot it next time.
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