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Advertisers are frequently violating site rules by placing ads on the popular classified site Craigslist, much to the chagrin of the community of Craigslist users.

Although commercial ads aren't supposed to appear in the "for sale" section of the site, advertisers are placing ads there anyway, many of them with links that redirect users to websites where they can purchase the product, ClickZ reports. Craigslist warns users that commercial posts are subject to removal if placed in sections other than the "services offered" area.

Advertisers that violate the site's terms of use can be flagged by the site's loyal community of users, leading to the removal of such ads. But with the availability of software for automating postings on Craigslist, the publication of a syndicated article on how to place ads on the site, and even a book about marketing products there, the problem is likely to get only worse.

The site's terms of use explain that users not post content "that constitutes or contains 'affiliate marketing,'…that constitutes or contains any form of advertising or solicitation if: posted in areas of the Craigslist sites which are not designated for such purposes…[or] that includes links to commercial services or web sites, except as allowed in 'services.'"