We all consider ourselves to be good people, wanting to help others, to do well by our loved ones or
even wanting to change a stranger’s life for the better. This self-perception is a virtue but may be a
hook for anyone; particularly older adults who may be lonely, isolated, or experiencing loss. By fishing
for an opening in personal narrative, scammers bait their victims into their net of deception.
Professionals who interact with people who are being scammed may be able to reach the individual by
better understanding the altruistic desire behind the bad decisions they are making in the moment. This
training will focus on the emotional context of a scam victim while discussing the spectrum of how
tightly held the belief in the scam is for that victim. We will discuss ways to connect with the victim in
hopes of preventing further financial loss.
B6 – Hooked! When the Best in Us Leads to the Worst for Us: How Scammers Use Personal Values to Trap the Good-Hearted
Speakers
Donata Mikulik
Senior Advocacy Services
Donata Mikulik is the Elder Justice Coordinator for Sonoma County with the local non-profit Senior Advocacy Services. Since January 2017, she has worked with community partners to improve systems responding to Elder Abuse while increasing public awareness and promoting elder justice. In this role she gives presentations to community groups about frauds and scams discussing signs to watch out for with our neighbors and loved ones, as well as common frauds and scams that increasingly target older adults. Often, financial exploitation or falling for scams is the starting point for other types of abuse so and she has been told firsthand of the experiences community members have had falling victim to the scams. Donata Mikulik earned her Bachelor’s in Anthropology form UC Berkeley and her Master’s in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco and has spent over 15 years working in the non-profit and public sector promoting community engagement.
Todd Finnemore
Adult Protective Services
Dr. Finnemore Psy.D. is a clinical geropsychologist in private practice who draws psychoanalytic thinking and Buddhist mindfulness into his practice helping people through the processes of aging, sickness and death. He provides assessments and psychotherapy to older adults, caregivers and the adult children of aging parents, and is embedded in both Sonoma County and San Mateo County Adult Protective Services, along with occasional service to the court as an expert witness. He is dedicated to supporting older adults and their families through the challenges of later life development, building community mental health services for older adults, and improving systems of care for the severely mentally ill.