Barb;
        I think we can rest assured that Mr. "Nomadartist" is not trying to
perpetuate a fraud: all his feedback indicates that this is his debut as
a seller in this forum, and his name self-proclaims that he is an
Artist, and not a shell-seller.    So, while someone with the proverbial
"WAY more money than brains" might possibly bite, most serious shell
collectors will instantly recognize a good joke when they see it.
Another clue is the little factoid that Mongolia doesn't have a coast......

From the land of "Fall is in the air already????????",
Ross M.

Subject:   Strange but true?? NOT!!!!!!!
        Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 23:28:56 -0400
       From:  Paul Monfils <[log in to unmask]>

Calling all Cypraeologists (and anyone else who wants a good laugh) . .
. check this out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2129084091

  Subject: Re: Strange but true?? NOT!!!!!!!
        Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2002 16:01:01 +1200
       From:   Barbara Jouvernaux <[log in to unmask]>

This certainly is good for a laugh... but what exactly is it and how do
you think it has been made? Also has the sub-species
name been completely fabricated, or does it have some basis in reality??
I notice that you can "ask for a set" - it's tempting to email him and
ask him how many he can supply (hee hee!). I'm a real
amateur and I don't know much about cowries, but even I'm not that
gullible (but hey, maybe some one out there with more $$
than sense could be fooled).
Is there some way to alert the administration at Ebay that someone is
deliberately misrepresenting an item on auction???