Okay, let the fireworks fly.  I've spent too much time already trying to figure out what is going on and consulting with other F4F members who suspect the same scam going on and, for the protection of people who are a little too trustworthy, I have decided to reveal what seems to be going on.

The recent F4F member abcd has made some interesting posts, appearing to be a newbie fig collector, offering to buy cuttings from others.  In the original post, abcd indicates they have had trouble rooting cuttings and would like to buy more cuttings to keep experimenting.  See http://www.figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=7219709 Also, quite interestingly, claiming to have imported Greek fig cuttings released which were released by USDA contrary to very clear regulations that prohibit this.  See http://www.figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=7228699

I and others have sold significant quantities of cuttings to abcd, or Alex Gulenok, of River Edge, NJ.  Specifically, I sold Alex 25 cuttings of Panache and 25 cuttings of UCR 184-15 and he received them last Wednesday (January 7th).  I and others are 99% certain that Alex sells under the eBay ID of 2014.gulen (partial name match, same city).

Alex also just recently posted on F4F asking for a source of starter Jolly Tiger plants.  See http://www.figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=7234410

The eBay 2014.gulen account was created in October 2014 and has a history of selling 9 varieties of figs in the past month and currently has 21 auctions listed with 9 varieties in addition to those showing up in feedback history of being sold previously. An auction for 184-15 was also active yesterday but apparently someone already purchased those cuttings.  Current listings include Jolly Tiger which is particularly interesting as Alex was just looking for starter plants four days ago and now has cuttings being offered.  See http://www.ebay.com/itm/251789211493 for the current Jolly Tiger listing.  I strongly suspect the striped fig cuttings shown are the Panache cuttings I shipped to Alex last week.

I suspect Alex also uses the eBay account svet_vasyl-2008 which also has a listing for Jolly Tiger with many of the same photos being used.  There was another auction in the Buy It Now format that apparently got sold already.  See http://www.ebay.com/itm/321640705172 for the current listing for suckers.

I and others have suspicions of connections with other eBay accounts but evidence in incomplete.  Maybe Alex (abcd) would like to provide the details.

If you've been the buyer of cuttings from suspicious sellers in the northeast, please send me a PM with details.

I have saved PDF copies of the threads linked above in case they are deleted by abcd.

EDIT- See posts where I have made significant updates at:
http://www.figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1285794538&postcount=99
http://www.figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1285806763&postcount=109

I suggest avoiding any activity with the following eBay users:

2014.gulen
atskor10 (formerly atskor8) *
korina-2009 *
korina77-2008 *
svet_vasyl-2008 *

* It's been confirmed that these eBay users use the same PayPal account.  See post #109 linked above.

Edit 1/17: It appears that eBay user 77peony of Moscow, PA is probably also part of this group.

Also, if anyone has a desire to read a cached copy of abcd's thread before some posts were deleted, it can temporarily be found at http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:b6ep9rzRrXsJ:www.figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post%3Fid%3D7229696%26goto%3Dnextnewest+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Edit 1/18: It appears with 99% certainty that radyslava is another eBay account being used by abcd (Alex Gulenok).

Edit 4/28:  In an effort to edude detection, these scammers continue to change their IDs.  Also, another related account was identified.  As of now, the list of eBay accounts used by this group consist of the following:
200rarefigtrees
77peony
korina-2009
korina77-2008
vasyl_svet
vasyus4
growgr.55
radyslava

I'm afraid figs have become big business with so many selling to for top prices, and with cutting you don't know for a year or more if you have been scammed..... it seem obvious there is a recent rash of scammers coming out of the woodwork. 

It hard to buy from ebay anymore and feel confident. So now i look if they are on figs for fun and check how long they have been a member and read there postings. This is my new safer way after the other thing i just went through. Thanks mr.C

:)

now, now, Richard...LOL

Seriously though...(I need some water tidiest all this).
Harvey, that's a lot of work from your part just to worn us, thanks in my behalf.
But... although the way the cuttings were attained doesn't sound very honest, at least they are not FALSE varieties, right? I mean, you said it that you sold him and he or she, looked for a true source for other varieties...
The only thing that bothers me is that this person didn't come out clean about his intentions and (maybe) took advantage of soft hearted follow forum members to make some bucks off of them, ugh... where is that water!

Not quite, Aaron.  Read my original post again.  I believe my Panache fig cuttings are being sold as Jolly Tiger.  I also suspect that the 18 or more varieties that this seller has sold or is trying to sell may mostly be mislabeled intentionally.

He purchased some of my unknowns. (2 varieties). I did not have any problem.

NJ
The real Fig Mafia...
Anywhere else .... just a glorified crew

There are those who steal to eat, and there are criminals.
Hope you were hungry Alex.

Your kids will be very proud of you!

Harvey, thanks for the research and heads up.  There may be another one close at hand as well.  Cons are good at what they do.

Aaron, I already talked to eBay about this the other day.  They said their risk management team would look into it.  They are only interested if it might cost them some money.  Trying to find other authorities that might be interested would be difficult.

Seems to me that anyone buying 25 cuttings of any one cultivar all at once should at least raise an eyebrow.  I have 2 cuttings of some cultivars and hope to get one tree, 8 cuttings of others and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all of them when they are trees.  And that's just 8!!!

how about if you approach the entire case as a Fraud and Con-artistry. He's telling them one thing yet sending them another.
Con-artistry is criminal!

Scott, LOL
really, I just killed my 2 precious Clown FIG CUTTING, CAN YOU SPARE ME 25 PLEASE? I'm just trying to merely replace them.

Thanks Harvey for the heads up. I will try not to buy any this time.

He has a lot of auctions listed.

Good job Harvey! Thanks for the heads up! All members need to be a little more careful when it comes to trades and -or sales that are based on a single photo or promise without the proper back up! Stay calm( do not let a flashy pic excite you), be patient and think twice before you offer all you do or do not have! With all the reliable members growing almost every variety within this forum ,I do not see the reason for any of us to look on unproven sellers elsewhere for our buys!

I have,done a good bit of trading but happened to be older members i think. I better go check.

The majority of trusted EBay sellers are F4F members anyway, if you are looking for something just ask.  Really it's the people that have not been fortunate enough to find F4F that are being victimised.  If members choose to buy from a seller without checking into them here, then that is on them. 

As far as buying cuttings from a member at a discount then reselling them at a profit, to me that is stealing and dishonest unless disclosed in advance. 

That is very unfortunate that people take advantage of kind hearted individuals. I really just takes one to mess it up for everyone else.

The other day when I was reading through the threads - I too found it very suspicious when I saw that he has a broker who supposedly has the ability to produce papers that allow the import of the Greek figs.