Hello Paul........I have been reading your folly since the first post. My condolences..............
You did learn a valuable lesson about eBay...never buy privately after a cancelled or ended Auction. I got burned once last year($100)after sending a PayPal payment to a registered seller. Ebay did an investigation and an Illinois police department took my statement. This guy had burned others. I never heard if he was caught, but he was banned on eBay. eBay's "insurance" got me back $75. Some comfort..............
So even registered sellers with good profiles can burn you..........and after eBay suspends a seller they also make that seller's email and info unavailable to protect the seller's "rights! That still burns me.............So remember:
Write down all the sellers info if you need it later. Contact previous buyers and see how their transaction went, especially if its for a similar/same item. I found all this out, after the facts!! Best wishes. -charley