It might not be a scam. How do you know the item was "mysteriously damaged." What makes you so sure you wouldn't get your item back in the same condition? Let me offer you another perspective--I'm not saying this is what happened to you; it's just another point of view.
I bought a bag two weeks ago that was listed as in "very good condition." The photos of the exterior of the bag looked OK, but they were taken with a flash, which now I know can dramatically cover up imperfections in addition to lightening the color of the bag. The interior was described as "signs of wear," so I got in touch with the seller to find out what she meant by that. We even spoke over the phone, had a very nice conversation. She insisted the interior was not soiled, dirty, or stained, just "used." I buy the bag. I get the bag. First thing I notice are the scuffs here and there (OK, I tell myself) and the worn out leather (showing up as black and as discoloration) on the bottom edges that cannot be fixed (OK, I say). I turn the bag over and I notice these faint marks on the back, like fuzzy horizontal stripes, kind of blue-grayish, as well as spots both on the front and back. I took it to a leather place and they told me it was water damage and dye transfer. The bag would have to be repainted (very costly). On top of that, the interior was DIRTY. I don't get upset because I have way more serious issues in my life that can't compare to a bag, right? So I'm cool. I spoke to the seller--tactfully, calmed, no drama, no attitude, just matter-of-fact. (I know how touchy everyone on
eBay is, so I'm very careful as to how I talk and deal with people; I strive to be rational, fair and respectful.) Like you, she had not seen any marks on the bag and had no idea what I was talking about. And you know what? I could assume malice, and maybe she did know what I was talking about and just wanted to get rid of the bag, but I've found that often you can resolve issues and get what you want by giving people the benefit of the doubt--as vs sparkling a conflict. This does not apply to rude, inaccessible, deceiving sellers and buyers, of course. Anyway, I think a person would almost have to be blind to not see the damage on that bag, but she maintained that she had never seen anything. So I concluded that unless she did it on purpose, she's simply not a "purse person" like us, so she doesn't see what we see, and she misses what we wouldn't. I was willing to keep the bag with a partial refund, but in the end we decided it would be best to return it for a refund.
I'm just telling you this in case there's a chance that you could've looked at the item less meticuously than the buyer. I would've calmly explain to her that I didn't see anything wrong with the bag, to please email you some photos, and if it's a matter of subjective opinion, I would take the bag back and avoid a bigger mess. IMHO.
Urgent help please!
Do a search here and you will find lots of threads with useful info for the future...
"God, am I on hold?"
. I'm so sorry, but I can't do this a third time--it's 1:35 am and I'm soooo tired. Bag addicts know their bags, so in your case it seems you're dealing with a pain in the butt. I'll try again tomorrow, but others here most likely will have the same advice for you than I do. 
