However, in some areas legitimate dealers in satellite equipment say they are losing a considerable portion of their trade to these technical con men.

One fish dealer warned that the proposal by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani would drive legitimate dealers out of the city.

If wood worm is the plight of the legitimate antique dealer, then this electronic bug looks set to make life difficult for rogue dealers and thieves.

The groups asserted that the Clinton Administration proposals would not stop crimes with guns but punish legitimate dealers.

Once legitimate dealers have spotted a fake, they can usually persuade wholesalers to screen their supply sources more carefully.

But they are also highly traceable and might prove difficult to sell to legitimate dealers, independent experts said.

Registered dealers may send shipments to other legitimate dealers in New York, but they must be identified as such during shipping.

"We like the kind that come from legitimate dealers," laughed Kerringer, in a style that wasn't pleasant.

They set up phony companies for gun-running, and when they ran out of illicit weapons openly purchased guns and ammunition from a legitimate dealer.

The station acts as a brokering company for those who can't go through legitimate dealers.