returned item not in parcel received back

[curio47]

sold an item worth considerable amount of money.  buyer not happy with item and requested a return.  we accepted the return but on receiving package there was nothing in the parcel.  the package was intact and hadn't been tampered with.  buyer has the item and ebay will be issuing a refund with the money held.  we have been scammed and ebay are refusing to do anything about it.  has this happened to anyone else and if so how did you deal with it?

[ruby*tuesday]

Presumably there is a Weight Discrepancy?  You can Appeal giving all the evidence you can muster. Enter "Appeal Ebay's Decision about a Return" into Help and Contact at the top or very foot of the Page.

Do Report to Action Fraud and add the Crime Number to your Appeal. That has helped other Members in the past.