My apologies, I should have updated this thread.
I can report that because I (and I know of at least one other) had sent numerous small amounts of money via PayPal, I sent a report to PayPal via their website. They conducted an investigation and emailed me with a freephone number to contact a certain person there. I did so and had a very detail conversation.
The email address for the other person was, in fact, registered with PayPal from a Venezuelan address. However, the updated information on the PayPal site showed this person was no longer living there. Naturally, they could not reveal the location other than it was nowhere near the original address, adding that it would be quite easy for someone in Venezuela to be handling that account and then sending the money on to the person.
I was also told that this PayPal account has been extremely active for a number of years - clearly meaning many people have, perhaps still were, depositing small sums of money for this person.
In addition, it appears the person who owns this PayPal account is not male.
I was told the matter was in the hands of the PayPal legal team and that I could speak with them if I wished. I declined the offer, adding that I am sure they will contact me if they needed further information.
Therefore, this was indeed a scam, a very clever one, where even the gender of the person was changed, and it seems the lady was not acting alone but in concert with at least one person who it is believed may be her partner or husband.
Thank you to all. I still feel totally idiotic for falling for this scam but it is a lesson I have learned. I lost money, thankfully not a huge amount, but it showed me how easy it is to be taken in.