Illegality Runs Rampant on Craigslist!

Not long ago, Bostonist told you about how the Herald's crack team of investigative reporters broke the shocking (shocking!) story that craigslist was being used for purposes more nefarious than the mere selling of non-street-legal knives and mini footballs singned by a former Giants tight end who's been retired for over a decade. Yes, some unsavory folks were using the site to sell sex!

But an exclusive investigation by Bostonist reveals that the rot in the craigslist apple may go to the very core of the seemingly innocuous community site: Through an unrelenting fifteen minutes of arduous research, we've learned that numerous other illegal activities are in the offing on the 'list. Well, maybe not numerous, but, you know, some.

For example, an unnamed online dating service will pay unsuspecting job-seekers $1 for every sign they place into the ground along certain streets and highways, advertising the dating service. Now we can't be sure, but we'd be willing to bet the service hasn't paid the $1,000 application fee to the state Outdoor Advertising Board in order to get permits for the placement of these signs - a violation of Mass. General Laws chapter 93, section 29!

Another scofflaw craigslist advertiser offers $100 for a "non-sexual," "full-body" massage, and shamelessly says, "You do not need to be certified or proffesional [sic]." That sounds to Bostonist like an undisguised solicitation to violate the provisions of Mass. General Laws chapter 140, section 51.

Worst of all, some guys want to hire a midget to dress up as a leprechaun for their St. Patrick's Day party. While that's not criminal, it is awfully weird and more than a little mean. And if this ad doesn't have the potential for some serious illegality, we'll be damned.