Google webmaster tools showing zero external links

[azharok]

my site was previously showing 300plus backlinks in google webmaster tools, but suddenly next day it showed all external and internal links zero. I'm scared, i searched for answers on many forums but haven't got.
Next day i removed meta tag "verify-v1" from my site and uploaded after 4 days today i have verified the webmaster tools and surprised. My back links were came again. I am not sure whats happening but this is my recent experience.

[tedster]

There have been other reports of some issues in the past week with backlink reporting in Webmaste Tools. One thing to be aware of is that WMT is a reporting utility only - that is, it's not a direct look at the data Google is using to generate the SERPs.

Sometimes Google does have technical problems getting accurate data imported to Webmaster Tools (it seems like quite often, actually.) But if your traffic maintains at the same level, then there is no reason to be very worried.

[Goofer]

I have had exactly the same problem - about a week ago (webmaster tools reported zero backlinks and zero internal links, but then restored them the next day). At the same time the site dropped from around 10th in Google to 25th for our chosen keyword. Could be co-incidence but unlikely - have not been below 15th for 6 months.

[drall]

Our largest site has seen shifts up and down ranging in the hundreds of thousands of backlinks with no associated change in traffic. I wouldnt loose any sleep over it.