Users were unable to access local Craigslist websites across Canada Tuesday, but it's unclear whether the popular online classified service was hacked.

Web surfers trying to visit any one of the 55 Canadian sites -- including Craigslist Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton -- before noon were redirected to a purported message from the company claiming its terms of use policy had been violated.

"The website formerly operating at this domain violated Craigslist's Terms of Use (TOU), and/or enabled or facilitated others in violating the TOU, and/or infringed Craigslist's trademark(s) or other intellectual property," the message read.

The message went on to say that users who post non-local or irrelevant content, repeatedly post similar content or otherwise misuse the service detract from the website experience – and could face litigation.

"Craigslist enjoyed considerable success in such litigation, securing multi-million dollar judgments in a number of cases," the message reads.

The message was replaced at around midday by a much friendlier address indicating there were "technical issues" with the site.

"All hands are working to get this sorted out asap. Sorry for the inconvenience," it said.

It then offered updated, working links to all localized Canadian Craigslist sites.

Other Craigslist sites, including in the U.S., Europe and Asia, did not appear to experience similar problems.