I had one, I was having fun with ( OK fun getting all of those letters,) for months, they were kidnapped at the end of it, and needed money to save them.
But the scam varies, in some they are already in the US, but just another state, and just need plane money or even bus fare. ( I guess if you get enough people to send 200 dollars it still is a lot of money.
But heck I would love to go to Ghana again, there are lots of wonderful people, and some of the hardest working people I know. Ate at a dinner ran by a Ghana couple today for lunch.
And people of course do have accidents, I have a serious one about 2 week ago.
But also, yes old people do text and message fairly fast at times. While I have a slight spelling problem, I can in general out type many people 1/2 my age.