Yeah, but who’s hiring threads the company is supposed to read your skills and respond if you are an actual fit, not just send it to every single person who posted. I’d bet dollars to donuts that half the candidates they sent it to don’t even qualify for the position.

I think the assumption here is that the company claims they looked at your qualifications and decided it might be worth your effort to apply, when in fact they didn't.

If that's what's happening, it's a form of fraud (but legal, I imagine).

You're right. You are confused. He or she didn't get an email like that. It was an email that said, "Saw your profile on HN and we think your skills look like a good fit for our team." No one saw the profile and thought that. Re "wondered if you'd be interested in our YC company," no one wondered that.

This was a deceptive email meant only to advertise the fact that Anima 1) exists, and 2) is accepting applications. It should have been posted in the "Who is hiring?" thread.

The same with OP. I don't understand this thread at all.