Every single job application form that has a field for your github profile is at fault for this. Juniors trying to break into the industry are trying very hard to check every box.

I've never asked for or looked at anyone's github or personal code as part of a job interview. Too easy to fake, and too much risk that it's something proprietary that could put me in a bad spot.

I never ran into that. I always ask the recruiters to include my GitHub account in the summaries they submit to the technical teams reviewing applications. But they never do.