The internet has made the life of freelancers much easier; one no longer needs to phone countless companies or produce expensive mail outs, instead the peripatetic worker goes to one of the online job boards and 'bids' on those jobs that match his skill-set.

Now though, it seems that these job boards have eased the life of contract-killers too!

When Ann Marie Linscott, 49, posted her freelance requirements on Craigslist she wasn't specific about what the job entailed. Imagine the shock of the successful applicants when they received the name and work address of a woman she wanted dead!

Linscott allegedly asked respondents to "eradicate a female living in Oroville, California," and supplied information about the intended victim, including her physical description, age and employment address.

Following the November ad posting, she twice offered payment of $5,000 upon completion of "the eradication task."

It was the successful candidates who reported Linscott to the authorities. Well, I don't blame them - $5,000 isn't much, even by the bottom-dollar standards of online freelance agencies.

CB5,cm