You didn't get your hopes up did you? This is a common stall tactic of scammers to keep you from filing a fraud claim with PayPal until it's too late. I never understand why they bother stringing you along and lying, as if you're not going to notice within a few days there there is no check or no PayPal refund then you'll be right back here wondering where's the money. I've been through this before, seen it going on many times on various forums... it always plays out just like this thread. If he wasn't a scammer you'd have had your stuff or he'd have made this right LONG ago.