According to AARP, this is a common scam that has cost grandparents millions of dollars. Unfortunately, the tax rules don’t help in any way. The deduction for a theft loss—assuming such scam is a theft under state law—cannot be claimed in 2018 through 2025.
Depreciation methods that allow faster write-offs than straight-line rates in the earlier periods of the useful life of an asset. For example, in the first few years of recovery, MACRS allows a 200% double declining balance write-off, twice the straight-line rate.