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",)