ALOHA!
I JUST RETURNED FROM 6 WEEKS IN ASIA. FOR THE 1ST TIME CHARGES WERE FILED
AGAINST 2 CEBU SHELL DEALERS BY A FRENCH SHELL DEALER. HE BOUGHT A FAKED
SINISTRAL CONUS VIRGO FOR 16,000P(ROUGHLY US$300). THIS WAS DONE BY
CANNIBALISING 3 NORMAL SHELLS CUT IN THIRDS. THE END PRODUCT IS EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO PERCEIVE AS A FAKE.

IN THE PAST SINISTRAL CONUS AULICUS & GLORIAMARIS HAVE APPEARED BUT WERE
EASILY SPOTTED AS FAKES. EXPERTLY DOCTORED SINISTRAL CYMATIUM PILEARE ALSO
HAVE APPEARED THIS TRIP ENGINEERED BY THE SAME 2 DEALERS. LOCAL AUTHORITIES
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND THESE DEALERS BECAUSE A PROMINANT CEBU DEALER IS
HIDING THEM SINCE HE PROFITS DIRECTLY OFF THEIR WORK. ONE OF THEM HAS
APPEARED TO ME TO SELL HIS MATERIAL BUT I REFUSED. HE WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE
BEFORE SECURITY WAS SUMMONED.

BE AWARE OF ANY SINISTRAL SHELLS OFFERED. THEY ARE A WORK OF ART BUT SHOULD
BE TREATED AS A CRAFT ITEM, NOT A RARE SPECIMEN.   MAHALO! CHRIS:)  c",)