Lazada seller sent random item instead of washer stand, refund rejected. What should I do?

Need some advice.

I ordered a cheap washer stand on Lazada (about $6+). The parcel arrived today, but instead of the washer stand, the seller sent me a small letter-sized envelope with a tiny packet inside. It looks like some kind of powder or small contents, not sure what it is, but definitely not what I ordered.

I submitted a refund request and uploaded photos showing what I received, but the refund got rejected. The rejection reason says I selected the “incorrect return reason” and it’s telling me to “select I want to return my item”… but the “item” I received is literally this tiny packet. If I return it, I’m worried the seller will claim I returned the wrong item.

What makes it worse: this was a LazMall listing, so I trusted it more. After I reported it, the seller also deleted the item listing from their shop.

Really frustrated, even though it’s only $6, this feels like a blatant scam. Lazada customer service also seems impossible to reach (feels like everything is just bots now).

Questions:

1. What’s the best next step to appeal or escalate this?
2. Should I open a return anyway, even if the return item is that tiny packet? Can this be done, there does nto seems like there is this option any more
3. Any tips on what to write/select so the refund won’t get rejected again?

Thanks in advance.