Craigslist Inc

The advertisement appeared on Craigslist in early December. "Need a real aggressive man with no concern for women," read the posting on the Internet classified advertising forum. Its purported author was a Casper, Wyo., woman, whose photo also was posted. One week later, a man accepted the offer, forcing his way into the woman's home, tying her up and raping her at knifepoint. "I'll show you aggressive," he allegedly said, according to court testimony. In fact, authorities say, the woman had nothing to do with the ad. Instead, they say, a former boyfriend had posted it, soliciting her assault.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives and federal authorities have broken up a San Fernando Valley burglary ring behind a string of high-end break-ins that netted several million dollars worth of electronics, jewelry and luxury items. The burglars targeted luxury homes in and around the Valley that were tented for pest eradication and those having estate sales, using Craigslist to find locations, authorities said. "In one house alone they stole more than $750,000 of items," said Lt. Alan Hamilton.

When 24-year-old Yuliya Kalinina turned to the Internet in search of a husband, she made it absolutely clear what she was looking for in a relationship: "Green Card Marriage -- Will pay $300/month. Total $15,000," the Russian national living in Los Angeles wrote in an ad placed on the Craigslist website. "This is strictly platonic business offer, sex not involved." Just in case any would-be Romeos weren't taking the hint, she added, "NOT required to live together."

Craigslist is convenient for more than just would-be buyers and sellers. In Santa Barbara County, detectives are using the popular website to track down alleged illegal drug sales. On Thursday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department announced that it had arrested two men on suspicion of pitching high-grade marijuana "clones" for sale. Though ads for medical marijuana collectives abound on the website, most are targeted at consumers who have a doctor's recommendation and an identification card, as required under state laws.

State attorneys general from across the country are stepping up pressure on Craigslist to shutter what they call the nation's busiest virtual street corner, where prostitution runs rampant. Craigslist says it has reduced by 95% the number of inappropriate listings on the erotic services section of its classified-ads website since November, when the San Francisco company reached an accord with more than 40 of the states' top prosecutors.

Craigslist is convenient for more than just would-be buyers and sellers. In Santa Barbara County, detectives are using the popular website to track down alleged illegal drug sales. On Thursday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department announced that it had arrested two men on suspicion of pitching high-grade marijuana "clones" for sale. Though ads for medical marijuana collectives abound on the website, most are targeted at consumers who have a doctor's recommendation and an identification card, as required under state laws.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives and federal authorities have broken up a San Fernando Valley burglary ring behind a string of high-end break-ins that netted several million dollars worth of electronics, jewelry and luxury items. The burglars targeted luxury homes in and around the Valley that were tented for pest eradication and those having estate sales, using Craigslist to find locations, authorities said. "In one house alone they stole more than $750,000 of items," said Lt. Alan Hamilton.

It was a Craigslist ad to die for. A federal grand jury here has accused a 48-year-old woman of taking out an ad on the website to try to hire someone to kill her lover's wife for $5,000. Ann Marie Linscott, a Rockford, Mich., mother of two teenagers who has been married for two decades, was indicted on three counts of attempted murder-for-hire this week in the foiled Internet plot.

A group of teenagers, led by a 17-year-old Queens girl, has been arrested on charges stemming from posting online ads for cheap Porsches in order to rob cash-carrying buyers, Long Island police said this week. The group's ringleader was high schooler Agniesika Banach, who placed at least three fake ads on Craigslist selling late-model Porsches, said Det. Lt. Karl Schoepp. One of the fake ads promised a 2002 Porsche 911 Turbo for a negotiable $50,000.

Craigslist Inc., the online advertising provider, accused EBay Inc. of using its minority stake in the company to extract confidential information that helped it start a competing classified-advertising website. EBay obtained a seat on Craigslist's board after buying 28% of the company's shares and used that access for data mining, lawyers for Craigslist alleged in a lawsuit.

The advertisement appeared on Craigslist in early December. "Need a real aggressive man with no concern for women," read the posting on the Internet classified advertising forum. Its purported author was a Casper, Wyo., woman, whose photo also was posted. One week later, a man accepted the offer, forcing his way into the woman's home, tying her up and raping her at knifepoint. "I'll show you aggressive," he allegedly said, according to court testimony. In fact, authorities say, the woman had nothing to do with the ad. Instead, they say, a former boyfriend had posted it, soliciting her assault.

State attorneys general from across the country are stepping up pressure on Craigslist to shutter what they call the nation's busiest virtual street corner, where prostitution runs rampant. Craigslist says it has reduced by 95% the number of inappropriate listings on the erotic services section of its classified-ads website since November, when the San Francisco company reached an accord with more than 40 of the states' top prosecutors.

It was a Craigslist ad to die for. A federal grand jury here has accused a 48-year-old woman of taking out an ad on the website to try to hire someone to kill her lover's wife for $5,000. Ann Marie Linscott, a Rockford, Mich., mother of two teenagers who has been married for two decades, was indicted on three counts of attempted murder-for-hire this week in the foiled Internet plot.

A group of teenagers, led by a 17-year-old Queens girl, has been arrested on charges stemming from posting online ads for cheap Porsches in order to rob cash-carrying buyers, Long Island police said this week. The group's ringleader was high schooler Agniesika Banach, who placed at least three fake ads on Craigslist selling late-model Porsches, said Det. Lt. Karl Schoepp. One of the fake ads promised a 2002 Porsche 911 Turbo for a negotiable $50,000.

When 24-year-old Yuliya Kalinina turned to the Internet in search of a husband, she made it absolutely clear what she was looking for in a relationship: "Green Card Marriage -- Will pay $300/month. Total $15,000," the Russian national living in Los Angeles wrote in an ad placed on the Craigslist website. "This is strictly platonic business offer, sex not involved." Just in case any would-be Romeos weren't taking the hint, she added, "NOT required to live together."