[Rockhounds] Fraudulent museum Curator

[Lawrence Rush]

I have been an active trader of minerals for almost 50 years, and have had 
many wonderful experiences with collectors all over the world. However, one 
very bad interaction has really gotten to me. I had forgotten about this guy 
until another swapper mentioned his name to me recently and had the same bad 
experience that I did.

This proposed trader, of the name of Paulo Matioli, claims to be a curator 
of minerals at the Jobas Natural Science Museum, in Brazil. I believe he is, 
and he even has a legitimate mineral named for him, Matiolite.

His MO is to schmooze a trader with promises of rare and exotic species to 
trade, promises much, sends photos, references, the works, and when you send 
specimens, usually your best, he disappears completely. No retun, no 
answers.

I am not looking for sympathy, and like everything in life, it's "let the 
buyer beware", "if it's too good to be true", etc.

What I want to do is to warn other traders, and to find out if anyone else 
has been taken by this guy, and formulate a plan to report him and put him 
out of the trading business.

Mail me off-line if any of this rings any bells out there.

Larry