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Quote:A syndicated article providing guidance on marketing via free classifieds site Craigslist has been making the rounds on various business-oriented Web sites lately. Still, there's no doubt the practice is controversial, particularly when advertisers disregard the site's strict code of conduct. In fact, it's difficult to get some advertisers who post to Craigslist to even acknowledge their use of the tactic on the record.

"[Craigslist] gives you a lot of exposure out there," said one small businessman interviewed for this story who preferred to remain anonymous. The furniture seller said his ad posts have gotten "flagged," or marked as possible spam or illegal postings, but he doesn't blame everyday users for flagging them. "Mainly it's companies out there; they don't like the way you're advertising," he continued, pointing to his competitors as the whistle-blowing culprits.

Browse the "for sale" section of Craigslist, and you're bound to find more than just the average Joe looking to unload that extra video game console or used baby crib. Several online sellers, affiliate marketing sites and local mom and pop shops are there, too, even if they're not really supposed to be...

Quote:"Any idea why I was flagged?" inquires one poster. "Flag help please!" cries another frustrated soul. The flag help forum on Craigslist abounds with posts like these. Since the free classifieds site recently introduced new tools to wrangle loan scammers, prostitution peddlers, and just-plain greedy marketers, it's no wonder transgressors are getting roped in.

"We're serious about going after the bad guys," said Craigslist founder and customer service rep Craig Newmark. He can say that again. Not only does the site rely on ISP insiders to assist in stomping out perpetrators of what he calls "spamvertising;" Newmark said cyber crimes-related police units around the country work to nab offenders, too. In fact, he added, some Web crime officers keep Craigslist staff numbers on file...

The presence of corrosive Craigslist posts -- anything from fraudulent loan listings to postings by travel or porn affiliate sites -- "has been a constant problem there for some time," said Newmark. "The community does help out in a big way," he added,...