Competitors Using Software To Mark Each Other's Craigslist Postings As Spam

from the now-that's-impressive dept

Mon, May 5th 2008 2:35pm — Mike Masnick

One sign of a successful software company is when an ecosystem starts to build around it. We've seen this with companies like Microsoft, eBay and Google of course. And, while there definitely have been some products built on top of Craigslist, I hadn't realized it had gone so far as to include software that will try to trick Craigslist into deleting a post as spam. As you may know, Craigslist has a little link on each post that allows any reader to "flag as spam." There's an automated system that takes note of these clicks, and if enough such clicks come from enough unique users, the post is automatically pulled off the site. For the most part, this system is both effective and efficient. But, according to the linked article above, there's software out there that will let you "flag as spam" any post you want, sending multiple clicks pretending to come from unique users. It's being used by some companies to maliciously pull down perfectly legitimate posts from competitors. Craigslist says it's constantly tweaking its systems to avoid this kind of thing, but why not have a Wikipedia-style setup, where "deleted" spam posts can be reviewed by folks who can "undelete" the not-spam ones? It can use the same basic system, where if enough people vote that a "spam" post is legit, it goes back online. Or if it's really an issue, then certain posts that get jerked back and forth could finally be "locked" by an admin based on their discretion.

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Filed Under: ecosystem, spam
Companies: craigslist

98 Comments

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Jake, 5 May 2008 @ 2:57pm

A decent CAPTCHA ought to go most of the way to fixing it, as well as blocking its use with known proxies like Tor.
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- DittoBox, 5 May 2008 @ 4:27pm
  
  Re:
  One man's opinion, but captchas are terrible and inaccessible ways of keeping the bots out. They're also increasingly ineffective and as of late are getting almost completely illegible for humans as well.
  
  The last 5 captchas I've had to deal with I have not been able to use. I'm young, smart and have 20/20 vision. It ain't me.
  
  These things are pure evil.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- TX CHL Instructor (profile), 5 May 2008 @ 4:54pm
  
  Re: CAPTCHA
  CAPTCHAs have been pretty handily defeated. There is one company that farms out CAPTCHAs all over the 'net, offering free porn for solving a CAPTCHA. Typical CAPTCHA is solved in about 10-15 seconds with that system.
  
  Even the OCR (and neural net) programs are getting pretty good at solving CAPTCHAs.
  
  CAPTCHA is not the answer. Wish I knew what was.
  --
  http://www.chl-tx.com Concealed Handgun License Training in North Dallas, Tx.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - ananananan, 6 May 2008 @ 9:23am
    
    Re: Re: CAPTCHA
    The best way to stop that is to have several captchas and an instruction on which one to solve
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- satan, 6 May 2008 @ 9:21am
  
  Re:
  good idea
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- CaptchaKing, 19 Oct 2009 @ 9:45pm
  
  Captchas are worthless
  CaptchaKing is 95% effective as a bot program
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- CaptchaKing, 19 Oct 2009 @ 9:45pm
  
  Captchas are worthless
  CaptchaKing is 95% effective as a bot program
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Deep Doo Doo, 29 Nov 2011 @ 8:50pm
  
  Re:
  All these suggestions are great, and many on the money and would work well.
  
  Just one teensy weensy problem.
  
  Neither Craig Newmark or Clint Powell give a rat's ass.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 5 May 2008 @ 3:52pm

why don't you code it for them?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- tinky, 24 May 2011 @ 4:04pm
  
  Re:
  why dont you lick my motherfucking balls
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 5 May 2008 @ 4:05pm

As a user, I hate CAPTCHA's
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 5 May 2008 @ 4:20pm

While CAPTCHA may be a minor nuisance it is a small price to pay in the war on bot-tards.
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Joel Coehoorn, 5 May 2008 @ 4:38pm

Don't underestimate the spam
I think you might underestimate the amount of spam that gets removed this way.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Greene, 5 May 2008 @ 4:53pm

If it's a business that has competitors, what are they doing on Craiglist?
I didn't realize businesses could use Craiglist for advertisement. If they are a company big enough to have competition, wouldn't it be correct to mark their Craigslist ads as spam?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2009 @ 11:52am
  
  Re: If it's a business that has competitors, what are they doing on Craiglist?
  Why should it be consider spam just because they're a big company? Why don't they have the right to post on Craigslist?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2009 @ 11:52am
  
  Re: If it's a business that has competitors, what are they doing on Craiglist?
  Why should it be consider spam just because they're a big company? Why don't they have the right to post on Craigslist?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 8:10am
  
  Re: If it's a business that has competitors, what are they doing on Craiglist?
  Business's pay to advertise on Craigslist, $40.00 a month to be exact.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Jerry, 16 Jun 2012 @ 9:39pm
  
  Re: If it's a business that has competitors, what are they doing on Craiglist?
  your an idiot, thats the number 1 reason besides selling and buying cheap shit.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
anonymous, 5 May 2008 @ 5:05pm

idea
if companies are doing this, craigslist should permanently ban them, and anyone using the software if there is a way to find it out, and i mean on the FIRST offense, and no recourse.
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Haggie, 5 May 2008 @ 5:43pm

It's probably used by competing pimps to remove "erotic services" listings from their competitors...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2008 @ 12:58pm
  
  Re:
  Do you think pimps are this smart!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dr. Slobber, 5 May 2008 @ 6:32pm

CRAPTCHA
It's not the competitors that you have to worry about on Craigs, it's the idiot flaggers that have nothing else to do but maliciously flag other user's posts. It's actually a sport over on Craigs to see how many posts you can have taken down. There are flagger mobs that spend a great deal of their lives just taking down other's posts.
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- david, 10 May 2011 @ 7:05pm
  
  Re: CRAPTCHA
  exactly. i buy/sell on craigslist. my competition posts lies about me, then flag my posts. theyre con artists who lie to people, sell bad product on purpose, among a lot of other stuff. software like this could really put them in their place!!!!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Deep Doo Doo (profile), 29 Nov 2011 @ 9:33pm
  
  Re: CRAPTCHA
  You are 100% correct.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Craigs defender, 6 May 2008 @ 8:38am

Perception is part of the problem. Craigslist TOS do NOT allow commercial services or businesses to post in the categories save a very few exceptions. Craigslist is not meant for businesses, it is meant for individuals as spelled out in the TOS. Anything business oriented posted there is spamming if not placed in the SERVICES section unless for a very few exceptions. (car dealers and some Craigslist areas like NY apartments which must be paid for to post) Another thing is that the TOS prohibit selling for third parties, ie...Realtors and consignment brokers. Lastly, the TOS prohibit page graphics which link to the dealers site such as many Realtors use. These are all spam and need to be eliminated as Craigslist becomes to unwieldy to use. I support the individual user concept and do my best to flag dealer ads as spam. I do go to an extreme to assure that it is indeed a business by googling the phone number or name of the person listed but most are so blatant to list the business name. If there is a question, I leave it alone. The magnitude of the dealer/business ads is making Craigslist unusable and everyone should do their part to help out. Yes, there are some Aholes flagging willy nilly but one can find them in everyday life everywhere but if you are a business, READ THE TOS, you aren't allowed so, piss off.
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- sssss, 19 Nov 2008 @ 8:07pm
  
  Re:
  fuck you fucking looser
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Toby Tucker, 15 Nov 2009 @ 11:04am
  
  Re:
  WHY HAVE A CARS AND TRUCKS BY DEALERS SECTION?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Ashley, 3 Mar 2010 @ 10:07am
  
  Re: The problem is people like you
  The entire problem was illustrated by your ridiculous post. There are morons who feel it is somehow their duty to police Craigslist...which 1) is owned by a BUSINESS, actively making millions of dollars from its use; and 2)is meant to be open-source. This is not a public-funded government organization, nor a non-profit service to help the 'unfortunate' people-who-have-crap-they-need-to-get-rid-of. It is open to everyone to post whatever the heck they want. Unless someone is posting hateful, abusive things, attacking people unfairly, making dangerous, inciteful, or illegal posts...you should mind your own damn business and leave their posts alone! Do you really have nothing better to do with your time than RESEARCH every ad you come across? How unbelievably sad for you!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - jack makokov, 16 Mar 2010 @ 3:33pm
    
    Re: Re: The problem is people like you
    You don't seem to get what cockpitinferno was saying. For example, I'm currently looking to pay cash for an "inexpensive" vehicle ($3500 or less). Nothing wrong with most dealerships, but I'd prefer to purchase a vehicle from somebody not looking to make a ridiculous profit and selling something overpriced. So I check out the cars + trucks section in my area only to find the place loaded with car dealership ads, along with car dealers posing as private sellers. Yeah, I'll flag 'em, especially when I call a number and it's a dealership. Usually if a dealer is that desperate,deceptive, that's not someone I'd like to do business with. Most people would RESEARCH an ad if they were making a major purchase. Yes, Craigs is free for everybody to post, but dealers take advantage with auto-posters--er, "marketing solutions firms"--posting their whole damn inventories numerous times throughout the day.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Dude, 21 Apr 2012 @ 9:01am
  
  Re:
  I guess businesses shouldn't post jobs either. In the jobs section.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2013 @ 9:04am
  
  Re:
  whys there a dealer option then?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Dealer, 13 Aug 2013 @ 7:33pm
  
  Response to: Craigs defender on May 6th, 2008 @ 8:38am
  You're one of the ignorant twits causing part of the problem with craigslist. Why would craigslist make sections for dealers to advertise if it was against tos? They also spoon feed search options like "by dealer" just so people have nothing to complain about... Blindly flagging legitimate posts based off dumbass personal opinion, IS against the tos. Hypocritical sheep.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Pitabred, 6 May 2008 @ 8:49am

Escalating war
The problem with your solutions is that there would simply be an escalating war. There are already the bots (or whatever) to nuke posts, so it wouldn't be a huge leap to create one to "un-nuke" a post. I don't think making it a fairer system like Wikipedia would have the intended effect due to the transient nature of Craigslist posts, as opposed to the more permanent articles in Wikipedia.
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Josh, 6 May 2008 @ 9:41am

I think it'd be interesting to know how this program actually works. I see two possibilities:

1) The maker of the software has some kind of botnet under his control, and the "report as spam" link gets sent to them to "click" - this is obviously illegal.

2) When you install this software, your computer will download and "click" those links sent in by other people every day/hour/whatever. Legally in a grey area, its an opt-in botnet (I would bet the EULA says you agree to have your computer used to report other messages as spam), but likely violation of Craiglist TOS.

Option 1 can be dealt with by law enforcement, option 2 is a technical problem that could be solved with a blacklist of certain IPs from reporting posts as spam.
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People are losers, 6 May 2008 @ 11:06am

Captcha
I have maybe had 2 or 3 problems with the million CAPTCHA's i've done. I dont see the big deal.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
JR, 21 May 2008 @ 6:47am

Craigslist Auto Poster
Try the Craigslist Auto Poster, Free Demo, post 1000's of ads, download at: http://www.FreeWebTrafficOnline.com
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 9 Nov 2009 @ 9:34pm
  
  Re: Craigslist Auto Poster
  FUCKING GOOF ARENT YA
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Julie, 2 Jul 2008 @ 4:14am

Help Me!
All I want to do is post 20 ads a day TOPS. I can't now with this new program. I use to just use proxies. That no longer works. What to do?
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- Deep Doo Doo (profile), 29 Nov 2011 @ 9:42pm
  
  Re: Help Me!
  what to do poor Julie.
  
  quit spamming the fucking site.
  
  If everyone started acting like human beings again instead of selfish me, me, me, assholes, everyone could do business on craigslist, you only NEED one ad up every day to sell you stuff or advertise your business if it weren't for the selfish fucking pricks who post 20 ads and more and KNOCK THE OTHER POSTS OFF THE PAGE.
  
  GET IT?
  
  If it weren't for the spammers everyone's post would be up long enough to generate some business for them.
  
  But the spammers turn it in to a cesspool of pigs wallowing in there greed.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Steve Baylot, 3 Jul 2008 @ 10:19pm

It's not right the way people flag things online
I have a business and I advertise on CL, I also use paid advertising. There is a jerk who is flagging everything in the automotive section of Jackson, Mississippi's CL. He has gone so far as to contact us and tell us we have no right to use CL. Is there any software I can use to get around these guys. Thanks.
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- anonymous, 5 Jul 2008 @ 1:34pm
  
  Re: It's not right the way people flag things online
  Steve... your car lot is spamming Jacksonville. How can you say you're being flagged with software when you have a bunch of repeat ads up for the same cars going back a MONTH?
  
  You spammers and your stupid "flagger software" theories are morons.
  
  YOU are the reason craigslist is becoming more difficult to use. You spam, making craigslist make things harder. Then you COMPLAIN (for no reason) making craigslist "guilty" to make things harder.
  
  98% of problems on craigslist are SPAMMERS' faults.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Steve Baylot, 5 Jul 2008 @ 4:03pm
    
    Spamming Jacksonville? Never been there, hear it's lovely.
    I don't think you know what you are talking about.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Deep Doo Doo (profile), 29 Nov 2011 @ 9:02pm
    
    Re: Re: It's not right the way people flag things online
    Really.
    
    Interesting.
    
    Go to AdNuke. Sign up for an account.
    
    Pay them $150.00
    
    They will flag off as many ads as you want as often as you want, as long as you can pay them
    
    Ahem .. .
    
    Whose the idiot?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 28 Jan 2009 @ 10:41pm
  
  Re: It's not right the way people flag things online
  I have news for you, dumbass :
  
  Craigslist is NOT for businesses. It is for individuals. You are WRONG to expect that your business has the right to post spam on CL.
  
  If you were a real business instead of some dumb fucking hick you'd pay for ads like the rest of the world does.
  
  I wish I lived in MI so I could flag you all day long. No, actually I don't.
  MI is a shithole. Good place for a cocksucker like you.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - unknown, 21 Feb 2009 @ 7:17am
    
    Re: Re: It's not right the way people flag things online
    so why did craigslist make a cars and trucks for sales by dealers section if it is not for businesses. at least you can separate this section from owners.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cat, 6 Jul 2008 @ 10:06am

Flagging
I can sympathize with Steve on this one. There is someone flagging and deleting people's ads in the computer services section here in Phoenix. It's sad when a competitor resorts to such tactics because they can't handle the competition. This person has completely destroyed a section that was once peaceful. A person shouldn't have the right to decide what's best for the customer. The customer should have the right to decide which company is the best for their service needs.

People who flag other business competitors ads because they simply either don't like them or because they don't want any competition whatsoever show not only how unethical they are but it puts the customer at great risk of getting ripped off. Then again, the person that has their competition's ads deleted probably don't care who they are hurting or why. It's a very bad way to conduct business and sooner or later the customer will wise up and choose a competitor anyway.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
anjum, 23 Jul 2008 @ 11:54pm

i support this , sometimes a bunch of flaggers just sit for fun flagging legitimate posts for nothing ,i dono if they get the ip adress or what but whatever you do they flag it.. even if its some baby item or piece of clothing you want to sell.. craiglist should do something about that other wise soon ppl will be frustated enough to leave the site
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Den Locke, 11 Aug 2008 @ 3:24pm

similar issues all over cl
I agree that it is the spammers causing the issues. They don't even bother to read the aups. I also see a lot of employers using the gigs section to post free employment ads that are obviously FT positions offering 401k, salary, etc. I flag them all the time. It's petty that I pay $25 (read: CHEAP employment ad) and these guys spam the gigs section to save $25.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2008 @ 1:03pm
  
  Re: similar issues all over cl
  Are you sick spammer!
  
  Spammers spam because they are getting flaged!
  
  They have a product to sale as opposed to the flaggers what are they selling nothing.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Phil, 17 Aug 2008 @ 7:38pm

Software that assists flagging has its merits...
Not for vanquishing competitors ads but for fighting spam and scam artists.

The amount of spam in the electronics, computer and photo sections of NY craigslist is astounding and this is not only spam it's a scam as well. It seems there's a group of folks from China that are generating this using some auto-posting software. I'm talking about hundreds of ads by a single poster.

http://nospam.softmastergeneral.com:81

Helps in the fight against spam/scams of this nature.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Dave, 14 Jul 2013 @ 8:14am
  
  hi Phil - reply: Software that assists flagging has its merits
  hi Phil,
  
  i am Dave in Brooklyn.
  
  i am looking for
  
  FREE craigslist flagging software
  
  PLUS antispam flagging GROUPS.
  
  we need to fight spammers
  
  as a GROUP effort.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - eric, 25 Feb 2016 @ 10:02am
    
    Re: hi Phil - reply: Software that assists flagging has its merits
    did you ever find your software
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
vern, 1 Sep 2008 @ 1:41pm

This new phone verification is not working on CL new yorks computer services
There is 1 individual constantly spamming going under many many different business names, one can tell they are the same person its basically the same phone numbers and a flat rate that would be considered a slap in the face to any technical professional, not only that but he uses others ads from around the U.S. as his own, this person could not have an original thought if they were for sale at the 99cents store. He really needs a bitch slap. I won't stoop to that level, but it's ashamed at whats going on. I am only one person but I state my facts to spam@craigslist.org everyday, sometimes it works, other days it's a losing battle.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2008 @ 1:04pm

I would rather have more ads then more flaggers!

I use the search function anyway.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
nr, 4 Oct 2008 @ 11:19am

Re: Abuse of Auto Flagging Software
Same in Atlanta CL esp under the "Cars for Sale" and and a few other places--talk about your ad getting flagged at the speed of light! Daaaym these greedy scumbag dealers are SCARED TO DEATH of any competition! Add these clowns to the malcontents who just flag ads because the don't happen to like and item and you can pretty much forget about doing any listing--almost sounds as bad as the computer services section of CL Phoenix....

I'm looking into somehow getting the auto flagging software (without spending a ton of dough and one thats Mac compatible)....Only getting to protect myself--they wanna flag my ads? I'll flag their azzez right back ;)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
gypsybutterflyy, 12 Nov 2008 @ 10:29am

Craig's List jewelry scam - names/emails
Publishing names/email addresses of recent Craig's List jewelry scammers in case someone (smartly) Googles their names before commencing business with them: Barry Wood - cdulf1234@bestmail.us, Heather Freret - newslady68@gmail.com, Teresa Perez - healmax003@gmail.com, service@paypal.com - this is a bogus address: shipment_status@accountant.com. Most of these are part of the Nigerian Craig's List jewelry scam. Don't fall for the fake payment/shipment authorization emails "from PayPal". Report emails immediately to spoof@paypal.com and press@craigslist.org. Hope this all helps!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Jeff Mathias, 21 Nov 2008 @ 5:13pm

Criaigs Flagging Software is Outdated
Ya, since software was created to flag down ads on craigslist, craigslist has been there to stop those programs using footprints as identification...

Post flagging is now a industry, you can have ads shot down in mass with Craigs Hitmen. You can just go to their site at www.craigshitmen.com to have tons of ads flagged.

Craigslist won't be able to stop that I bet
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- ken, 4 Jan 2009 @ 12:50pm
  
  Re: Criaigs Flagging Software is Outdated
  YOUR A FKN GOOF
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dick Hurtz, 26 Nov 2008 @ 7:30am

Spammers killed craigslist
The autos for sale on CL is just a mess now with spamming skuzz dealers from all over the United States posting autos in Chicago as well as local skuzz scum bag dealers. They polluted it so much it's no good. A dealer friend of mine received a postal ad from a company that sells the software to list all your cars on CL, I told him many months ago they will just ruin the auto section as they have done. CL should just shut it down.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Ses Quip, 4 Dec 2008 @ 10:13am

Forget about looking for a job on Craigslist now. The New York site has been taken over by Gmail spammers and other creeps phishing like there's no tomorrow.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
leon, 18 Jan 2009 @ 9:17pm

flaging
we are constantly flaged by compitetor .what is the best selution?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
jamie, 23 Apr 2009 @ 3:11pm

Im having this issue right now!
My legit postings are being killed in minutes!
even when i make it very clear im not spam.
its nuts!

all CL has to do is put one of those verification things like they do when you post. if someone wants to flag they can type in a 4 digit number!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
kay, 5 May 2009 @ 9:44am

I have this issue
I have this issue with craigslist.
The only thing that has helped me was a group
I emailed at craigsspamhelp@yahoo.com
Does anyone know of any other groups that spam ads
on a regular basis?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2009 @ 1:50am

I tried a lot of software available in the market - nothing works.

Finally, I got an auto-flagger made from an indian coder of getafreelancer.com.

It works great - and it's worth the price!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
CW, 13 Jul 2009 @ 12:25am

Flagging
I found this post searching for answers cuz I am so friggin pissed of right now it isnt even funny. The CAPTCHA isn't the problem, the problem is self-righteous, lazy, losers who have nothing else better to do than flag. I have posted several legit ads today for employment and some idiot keeps flagging them. If you dont know...wake up, one person can flag a post if you know how to do it (which I wont mention here) This is not a one time thing for me it seems to happen more than 50-60 percent of the time and these people are OUT OF CONTROL! There has to be something that can be done to stop these guys???
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
shar, 9 Aug 2009 @ 6:25pm

flag bots
they are destroying craigslist. they've already destroyed several cities r/r pages - just think what they could do to the jobs sites or the other sites. made numerous complaints to CL to no avail.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
jugstore cowboy, 12 Oct 2009 @ 11:12am

They Got it Coming
I don't mind dealerships posting. The thing I don't like is when some jackass posts his whole damn inventory (this is when most people feel the need to flag). Dealers are getting worse than the scammers there. BTW, if people are browsing CL looking for a vehicle, they probably aren't looking for something in the $20k-40k range.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
ITSYS Solutions, 29 Oct 2009 @ 3:53am

Web Scraping
Have a web scraping / data extraction requirement? Visit ITSYS Solutions at http://www.itsyssolutions.com
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
cockpitinferno, 23 Nov 2009 @ 9:21pm

Some of these dealers have no fucking clue. They spam the shit out of the car section in my and post in the FSBO section. Yeah, I'm looking for a $25-30k vehicle on Craigslist. These idiots are getting worse than the scammers on there.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dee, 16 Mar 2010 @ 12:10pm

Someone is Flagging/Deleting my Ads
Okay, I work for a legit business offering office spaces etc for lease/rent and storage space for rent. In the past 3 days, all of my recent ads have been flagged. I was doing some ads with gogopin.com, and these were the ones flagged/deleted. I have tried posting a regular text ad and so far that has not been deleted. I post, on average 3 ads a day in various categories (ie storage in parking/storage etc.)

Has anyone else had this problem with html style ads? Any suggestions? Thank you.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Craft Fairs, 25 Mar 2010 @ 8:31am

geo-IP based flagging system
Hey guys,

Now craigslist is not letting you flag so easily. It looks like they are requiring the flag clicks to come from the same IP address as the post (it's supposed to be a local tool right)?

So the trick of just clearing your cookies and then using a proxy are not going to work anymore.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
karate tortoise, 17 Apr 2010 @ 10:02pm

Why do people have problems with dealers posting ads? The For Sale by Owner section is loaded with retards who obviously have no intention of selling a vehicle. At least a car dealer WANTS to unload inventory. Here's a few tips for posters and some idiot ranters here:

1.120k-plus is not low mileage for ANY model year
2.If a vehicle has been wrecked and damn near totaled, Blue Book value is of no consequence
3.Try posting a phone number or some sort of contact info if you're serious about selling your car
4.Type your ad in MS Word or other word processing program and check for grammar and spelling errors
5. A 1985 Buick Ciera is NOT a classic or antique
6. A potential buyer doesn't give a rat's ass about your emotional attachment or sentimental value to a vehicle
7. Spammers, don't post photos of vehicles with palm trees and/or desert in geographical areas where neither would ever occur. The incoherence of what you cut and paste is bad enough.
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darrell, 15 Sep 2010 @ 10:46pm

here is the only solution
Pay for your advertising instead of using a free service.

Craigs list could give 2 shits about spam or people being flagged. ITS FREE!

I love it when people are using a FREE service and bitch when it dont work.
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syracuseny, 7 Apr 2011 @ 5:01pm

Flagging Craigslist
I'd love to know what software to get in order to flag spam on craigslist. flaggers.org has gone down. Anyone know of any others out there?
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- Kai (profile), 16 Dec 2013 @ 11:09am
  
  Re: Flagging Craigslist
  Yes. I will have software soon. VERY soon! So many people are looking for this software I am seriously thinking of distributing it.
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  - fred (profile), 19 Jan 2014 @ 9:03am
    
    Re: Re: Flagging Craigslist
    if it's done let me know.
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Simon Garth, 13 Oct 2011 @ 4:24pm

Real problem at CL
CL has a very serious problem with malicious flagging. But the owner, famed as an a..hole, doesn't give a damn and is not doing anything to solve the problem. He probably won't, either, until a good solid competitor kicks his a.. and scares the hell out of him.
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Atomic, 1 Nov 2011 @ 11:34am

There are people who live to destroy others instead of building a life of their own.

We have become too many.
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NoLimitList.com, 3 Dec 2011 @ 7:45pm

Just Use a Craigslist Alternative
Check out No Limit List where no flagging system exists by design so that you can rest assured your ad will stay where it belongs.
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mrnapolean1, 15 Jan 2012 @ 1:46pm

Solution to Combat Malicious Flagging.
I was thinking to require the user to enter a Capatcha in order to flag. (or to use any of the four links at the top of every post.)
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CL SuX now, 12 Apr 2012 @ 2:48am

the ONLY solution to flagBot retards
The problem is the auto-flaggers and pathetic self-appointed censors with no lives that are NAZI flaggers are just another form of SPAMmers on craigslist. This has been going on for years and CL admin has done virtually ZERO about it. Must be that CL admin are lazy, indifferent or incompetent, but this BS is a cancer that is slowly killing their site from within.

The ONLY solution: NO unaccountable flagging allowed!
If we have to go through the BS of Captcha and phone verification to place any legit ad, so should ALL the flaggers, every time. Otherwise CL is just a pointless idiotic Bot vs. Bot pissing contest!!
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spammersblow (profile), 1 May 2012 @ 5:26am

sw florida spammers are horrible!
i run a owner operated power washing business. i post in the household services section, sometimes the skilled trades.
i post once.
every time i post, ill check to make sure it actually made it (sometimes it doesnt and i dont know why) and on top of me is 15-20 posts from the same company also advertising power washing.
they must have someone sit in the office and check it all day to see if they get top posted, then they splash an insane amount of ads to stay on top.
i know when i post im asked for a phone number every so often. i am only 1 guy, i have a landline and a cell. this company must be using the emails and phone numbers of all of thier employees.
craigs should only allow 1 post a day, per section, per ISP, this might help that. also, when are they going to require a license number to post in ALL services sections? right now where i am at, its only required in the theraputic section. unlicensed contracting is ILLEGAL. it should be required by ANY contractor looking to provide a service.
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- Kai (profile), 16 Dec 2013 @ 10:52am
  
  Re: sw florida spammers are horrible!
  So buy an auto-flagging software and hit him. He is spamming your category and probably flagging your ads. I'd flag his ads which would be removed almost immediately and them go HAM posting all day. Wouldn't you love to see all of his ads but maybe 3 removed? Can't lie...that would be a "Yes" I know. Ive been there. It led me to developing my own auto flagging software. I'm not done but when I am, my competition who post over 20 of the SAME ads with the SAME title EVERYDAY can kiss my arse!!!! Buy bye competition:)
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John Sev, 15 Aug 2012 @ 11:38am

i traced a flagger
i have a computer repair company in new york city and someone kept flagging my ads nonstop. I decided to find out who they are and i traced them. I called the guy to confront him about and he says yes i flag, what you going to do about it. What should i so about this cl flager????

this is the address of the flagger

billys t shirt shop

1248 Fulton Street Brooklyn, NY 11216
(718) 789-2273

call or text my phones

718-789-2273

718-925-5804
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Paul Wendt, 5 Sep 2012 @ 3:11pm

Craigslist is a collaborator with the police state
Be assured that all "policies" that require any form of ID verification are deliberately engineered into existence for police state purposes. This IS 1984 being put into existence. What are we supposed to expect them to do? Admit what's going on? No. "It's for spam." "It's to stop stalkers." "It's to cover our liability for insurance purposes." Whatever. The endgame is: There will be no more anonymity, safety, security from govt online anymore. They intend to know every single thing you do online, with timestamps, location data, and everything else. Don't go along with it. If necessary, just print out a flyer yourself with your sale items or your yard sales and post them on bulletin boards around town. The only proper attitude toward Craigslist's collaborative, un-American "policies" is contempt, disgust, and rebellion. Fuck 'em.
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Danuboxer, 10 Nov 2012 @ 10:14pm

Jon Sev Fan
To Jon Sev....
Good job man. Impressive. I have an A-- hole in California flagging my postings. I have set up new accounts and done everything to be in compliance with Craigslist Policies . Yet this motherfucker still keeps flagging me. Can you email me or show me how to track down this motherfucker.I surely will appreciate it.
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Patrick Miller, 4 Mar 2013 @ 3:53am

CL Flagging Tools
Yes that is true. Too many people use software these days for flagging purposes. This is one such tool that is used for flagging ads on CL http://activerain.com/blogsview/294752/listings-on-craigslist-getting-flagged-deleted-
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Patrick Miller, 4 Mar 2013 @ 3:54am

CL Flagging Tools
Yes that is true. Too many people use software these days for flagging purposes. This is one such tool that is used for flagging ads on CL http://patmiller27.com/tools/cl-flagger-3/
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Kai (profile), 16 Dec 2013 @ 10:40am

UNETHICAL? Give me F*****ing break!!!
I am so sick of reading stupid thread comments that say flagging craigslists ads is unethical. UNETHICAL? Two clicks to the left and you're in Casual Encounters....hosting at YOUR place for some NSA kind of fun. How can people bring up ethics when it comes to doing ANYTHING on craigslist? You can have your diamond ring stolen from you and listed in your same zipcode on CL in less than a day. Someone fencing your stolen goods and CL is there to help them do it. There was...or is...or was human trafficking (now on backpage) until CL got rid of the Adult Services section. Point is (yes I have one believe it or not) that Craiglist is a fkng ZOO! A ZOO I tell ya but we wanna pick and choose which categories we want to be ethical about. You all who say "Ethics" and "Craigslist" in the same sentence should be banned from using the internet. The same people saying flagging ads is unethical are the SAME MORONS looking for "No Strings Attached" sex just two clicks down.
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Kai (profile), 16 Dec 2013 @ 10:48am

I'm MISS Unethical. It's nice to meet you!
I'm flagging anyone's ads who post more than me and drowns me out in my category. Who gives a shit. I don't play fair and neither did Donald Trump on his way to the top. The nice guy ALWAYS finishes last. It's not just a saying...its the truth! I am one of the people with craigslist auto-flagging software under development as we speak. I will make a decision once i'm done developing it if i want to distribute it or keep it for myself. A couple quick bucks might not be so bad but then providing proper support of the application will take up every moment of my time...fixing bugs..etc.
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Kai (profile), 16 Dec 2013 @ 10:59am

Re:
I'll have some software for you shortly. Its under development but soon....very soon. Ive got some crappy competitors to unleash on so I am busy finishing this windows-based software.
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Scott, 11 May 2014 @ 8:38am

Novice question
I am a small �one truck operator�, in the home improvement business. I focus on windows and door installations in my area and city. Mostly sell the installation and install materials, but the customers supplies some repurchased product. Although , I will supply as most contractors do when asked, I am not a reseller. But sell product with installations only.

I am lic, and Insured and EPA reg, as according to the local laws.
So I have a web site, and I advertise on Cl . There is no other real venues for small local guys like me unless you have a big operating budget.

Locally, Craigslist has been taken over by bigger window and door companies . If I flag them I get kicked off Cl. If I post honestly two to three time a week I get ghosted. Or the big competitor includes me in their flagging operations. I almost seem like there is a inside deal going on somewhere...

Is Craigslist a dead end for me? I seem that it was made for folks like me but now I don�t get any business from it unless I spend as mush time nursing my ads as I do working by business.

What should a simple carpenter do, Craigslist seems to have lost its way and we get no business form it any more.
Resorting to using flyers door to door.

Please be nice.

Thanks.
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matt, 24 Feb 2015 @ 7:09am

FREE flagging exchange group
join our craigslist flagging exchange group! we've got about 3500 members! facebook.com/groups/craigslistflaggingexchange/
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f, 16 Jan 2016 @ 10:13pm

robo flager robbing my money n income.
I am going to get the so that flag my ads off for selling cheaper than him , blood will flow, thinks he is smart running software on cl his ads are always 1st and my like ads get flagged off and now I am ghosted. He his store will soon be gone he will be a ghost see who's smart now. he is going to get it good real soon boom boom picked the wrong guy to f over.
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Don, 30 Jun 2016 @ 5:50pm

Flagging
Someone has an auto flagger that is flagging my ads on craigslist do you have anything that I can use to stop this??$$?? Please HELP Thanks Don
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jones, 7 Dec 2016 @ 4:46pm

flagging
the flagging problem on CL is a nuisance. and you know what? people flock to it anyway. the answer to the problem is to GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! and to hell with craigslist! go to backpage.com! ever hear of flagging problems on backpage.com? no? because they don't HAVE that problem!

but you don't want to go to backpage.com because nobody else goes there. craigslist gets all the traffic...

stupid is as stupid does. you are getting what you deserve.
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adsflagger, 20 Jul 2018 @ 11:13am

Craigslist Ads Flagging Software
Craigslist Ads Flagging Software ( Automatically flag down any craigslist ads with proxy API.)

FEATURE:

One Click CL ads Flaging (Automated)
You Can Add 100 URL And Import URL
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Auto count flagg done or removed
Auto save all flagging information
You can add multiple Proxy Server, RDP,SSH

IMPLEMENTED PROXY SERVERS LIST
VIP72
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PROXY_RENTAL
ANONYMOUS-PROXIES
VERIZON
IPSOCKS
PRIVATE_PROXY FREE_PROXY
PROXY-SCAN

EVERY FLAG REQUEST SEND FROM EVERY OTHER RANDOM THREAD

::::: DOWNLOAD HERE :::::
https://satoshibox.com/7dksvmzrbryxuepspx88efyi
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Martin, 28 Jan 2019 @ 10:47pm

fake cl software
This guy is a fraud, he ripped off my partner for software, said he needed to upgrade to access the proxies, dont buy anything from him.

https://satoshibox.com
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fraud
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