The buyer cannot cancel

Only the seller can, and they are not obligated to do so at all 

BUT if the seller chooses not to cancel (which they are well within their right to decline) , they have to ship the item if it has been paid for

eBay are not going to have any way of knowing if you did not receive it, unless you follow the proper process of opening an item not received dispute once the estimated delivery date has passed

Can't advise otherwise as I don't make fake bids 

I suppose you could try to contact eBay (assuming this was all through eBay messages) and point this out to them

Easier not to buy stuff and then instantly want to cancel

(And yes, we are all going through hard times/health issues/age/etc etc etc)