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Craigslist Captcha Is a Joke

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty

Craigslist Captcha Is a Joke

As far as I can recall, I've only posted something about Craigslist once and I don't even remember what it was.  It's such a hotbed for spammers, I figured why waste time blogging about it. But I just had to post this.  It's no wonder we get so much crap from Craigslist.

I was uploading some rental listings onto Craigslist.  When I got to the part where you enter the "Captcha" text, as I was hitting the continue button, I noticed a blatant error in what I had typed and what I was supposed to type and low and behold, I got the message to check my email to publish.

Just to make sure, I posted another listing and intentionally entered the incorrect "Captcha" text.  You can see below what I was supposed to type and what I actually typed.  I was supposed to type in L i q u e s t but I added an extra "s" and then I hit continue.  Again it was submitted, I checked my email and published.

What's the point of having "Captcha" if it does not function property.  I would not even call this "appeasing."  What I would call it is the folks at Craigslist saying "just give 'em something, anything just to make it look like we are really combating spam."

Craigslist Captcha

Comments (19)

Stacey Smith
Keller Williams Realty - Aliso Viejo, CA
Your Orange County Beach Cities Realtor

Craigslist is a joke.... I feel sorry for those that actually are wanting to post an ad, because I would be scared to death to buy something off of craigslist because I wouldn't know if its a scam or if I am going to get stabbed...

Nov 16, 2010 08:42 AM
David Beckham
Realty Executives Bayou Properties - Alexandria, LA
Your Louisiana Real Estate Connection

I agree Charita.

Nov 16, 2010 08:43 AM
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

I kind of enjoy getting all those special messages telling me that I am just minutes from being rich and famous.  In fact, I am just one click away from being on easy street....NOT!!! 

Just a quick serious question.  Someone must be using Craigslist successfully, right?

Thanks for your input!

Nov 16, 2010 09:12 AM
Paul Lesieur
203kloanmn - North Oaks, MN

Craigslist is an adventure, I posted an ad there and got nothing but bottom feeders and jokesters. But its free and you never know!

So why not?

Nov 16, 2010 09:14 AM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Stacey I know what you mean. I post and respond very cautiously.

Ray the answer is yes.  Many are using it successfully.  If that were not true, CList probably would have gone under a long time ago.

Paul you just never know.  I have been getting better leads lately, but the "captcha" thing is just one more bizarre tale in the saga that is Craigslist.

Nov 16, 2010 09:43 AM
Peggy Hughes/pha logistix, inc.
pha logistix inc - San Francisco, CA
SF NYC LA

You would think that a multi-million dollar operation would take just a little more care of their customers.  Thanks Charita...

Nov 16, 2010 10:15 AM
Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula
Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA
Realty Works Temecula

Charita:  The older I get the more I feel that life is a series of wired and strange games that just get stranger and weirder.   Kind of like twisted monopoly!

Nov 16, 2010 10:41 AM
Ted Tyrrell
RE/MAXCamosun (Chatterton) - Victoria, BC
Selling Homes in Beautiful Victoria

Charita, I used Craigslist just last week to post an ad for an apartment I had for rent. It worked as usual. I've never had a problem with Craigslist. I know others have. I didn't know about the Captcha flaw.

Nov 16, 2010 11:58 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Charita, do not kill the messenger I see you typed an 's' after the "Q" which I did not see...BTW I have the same problem with AR with the e-mails using this program, vs on first comments we have a "readable" one:))

Nov 16, 2010 12:30 PM
Tish Lloyd
BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Wilmington, NC
Broker - Wilmington NC and Surrounding Beaches

Charita ~  Craigslist busted???  Say it isn't so ...............  and with all that terrific information, oh dear!  Thanks for sharing this; it reinforces what we need to be aware of.

Nov 16, 2010 12:50 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

There was a point in time when I thought Craigslist was the best thing ever.  When it was overrun by spammers I changed my mind and now steer away.

Nov 16, 2010 12:51 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Great catch, Charita.  I would report it.  The more we can do to get these guys to be accountable, the better for everyone.

Nov 16, 2010 05:30 PM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Charita, 

I know Craigslist works for some, but it only brings out the wacky and weird for us in the executive leasing market here.  We've got too many other wonderful options that it's not a good option for us.  

Kudos to you for catching this blatant mistake.

All the best, Michelle

Nov 17, 2010 01:16 AM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

You would think wouldn't you Peggy?

Jane I know that's the truth.  The games people play. Sometimes it just isn't fun.

Ted you should just try and type the wrong text and see what happens.

Endre tell me it ain't so.  Not on ActiveRain.  I'll have to put that to the test.

Cindy I get a lot of leads from Craigslist but I am leery.  Very leery.

I will report it Jane P.  I had not planned to because I felt it probably would not have done any good.  But I reported something one other time and they took care of it immediately.

Michelle I need to up my game and step up to higher end rentals.  I've been working on it.

 

Nov 17, 2010 06:52 AM
Scott Hayes
(512) 786-8300 - Austin, TX
Realty Austin, Broker Associate

Charita- CL was hot in the day, but now it's so tough to find anything of value with regard to real estate. There is a reason I call it Crazylist.

Nov 21, 2010 06:24 AM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Scott I'm not sure that I was up on the "Crazylist" tag.  But it fits very well.

Nov 21, 2010 06:37 AM
Brin Realty Associates Team At Bean Group
Bean Group | Brin Realty Associates - Amherst, NH
Amherst NH homes and Southern NH real estate

Crazylist sounds just about right.  this may be naive, but can some captchas have a "margin of error" or do they need to be exact...

Nov 22, 2010 09:34 PM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Rene that could be true, but I don't know.  With these eyes of mind perhaps that's a good thing.  But it can't be so flawed that one can just type anything.  I've been putting it to the test lately.

Nov 23, 2010 12:01 AM
Anonymous
Danny

I'm pretty sure that the idea behind a captcha isn't to get it *exactly* right, but just nearly right. I think it was designed to be able to have a few errors in it and still pass. Basically this was done because even us humans can have a pretty hard time with captchas. I know I do sometimes. So being a character or two off and it letting you through isn't a problem, it's when you're *way* off and it lets you through.

I don't think craigslist will let you through with something very wrong.

Jul 31, 2012 09:43 AM
#19