People keep using my email address

PapaLazaru · 27 Feb 2016 at 20:28

I have a few addresses including one which is just my firstname_@.

A few years ago someone set up a Facebook account using it, which I stole back by using password reset, changing the password then deleting the FB account. It happened again last month but before I managed to delete the FB account I received another 38 password reset emails from the owner of the FB account. I have since fixed this by adding the email address to my own FB account, so it cannot be used by anyone else.

I also receive emails from a restaurant in London which I have never been to, apparently I passed it over on a review card when I ate there!

I have now just received an email from Domino's Pizza thanking me for joining and then another for a massive order to the University Of Sussex!

Why? What is the point?

PapaLazaru · 27 Feb 2016 at 20:33

Just called Domino's to double the order but they want the card details again.

[FnG]magnolia · 27 Feb 2016 at 20:43

I didn't know Sussex had a University let alone a Dominos. What a time to be alive!

cainer · 27 Feb 2016 at 20:45

PapaLazaru said:
Just called Domino's to double the order but they want the card details again.

how far away is that dominos branch? as its paid for you could call them and say youl come and collect it nomnom

Kutter · 27 Feb 2016 at 20:46

should have cancelled the order

Puzzled · 27 Feb 2016 at 21:03

I get the same on one of my outlook accounts but the thing is some of the stuff I get sent is quite important. Like a college course acceptance asking for them to call, a vodafone order (spoke to customer services but they didn't care) and an X-Factor audition confirmation! :eek:

For those sort of things you should really double check your damn email!

dowie · 27 Feb 2016 at 21:05

PapaLazaru said:
I have since fixed this by adding the email address to my own FB account, so it cannot be used by anyone else.

that is interesting - I've got a [email protected] account with a common first name and common last name...

I set up a second facebook account with no friends, no information using the same e-mail without a dot... purely because some numpty kept registering for things using that address including giving it to his employers - seems he also has a drinking problem and was called into a disciplinary meeting for it (his employer e-mailed me!

). The second facebook account regularly gets password reset attempts and I still often get e-mails from websites that don't bother to verify e-mail addresses - invariably it is stuff sent to the version of my address without the dot.

Hxc · 27 Feb 2016 at 21:08

I own my surname.co.uk and the amount of people who assume they somehow have [email protected] is ridiculous. Particular bad one is a guy called Martin. Drives me nuts.

VincentHanna · 27 Feb 2016 at 21:26

I get loads to my Gmail, which is first letter of my name and then full surname @gmail.com (not Vincent Hanna)

I've had emails for a priest to do with funerals and weddings. I get a Hyundai bluelink car report for an American car that you can't unsubscribe from, I've had genuine air travel e-tickets sent to me for somebody.

It's pretty ridiculous.

memyselfandi · 27 Feb 2016 at 21:45

I have two Americans who keep doing ... within the last week I have been in contact with a US health foods distributor to remove my email from the account belonging to one of them and been on to Apple Support about the other creating an account using my email address (I use a different email address with them)

The first of them is the worst at doing this ... I've had medical insurance, e-tickets for flights, various order confirmations and all sorts of other stuff due to them ...

My email is my initial followed by my (not overly common) surname ,,, their email is same first initial, middle initial, same surname ... neither seem to realise though that just because you can sign up to something with my email doesn't mean that things will come to them rather than me ... :rolleyes:

ianh · 27 Feb 2016 at 21:51

I share my name with a fairly famous 9/11 conspiracy nut whose published several books and I own the fullname.com website. The amount of utter raving loons who think that, even though my "site" is actually empty of pages/content (it's a storage site), they must be on "his" site is unreal and when they can't find anything I get e-mails asking if the "Gum Mint done shut me down?" or giving me their mindless takes on every new conspiracy theory!

Malevolence · 27 Feb 2016 at 22:03

ianh said:
I share my name with a fairly famous 9/11 conspiracy nut whose published several books and I own the fullname.com website. The amount of utter raving loons who think that, even though my "site" is actually empty of pages/content (it's a storage site), they must be on "his" site is unreal and when they can't find anything I get e-mails asking if the "Gum Mint done shut me down?" or giving me their mindless takes on every new conspiracy theory!

Ever thought of just adding a holding page with nothing but an image of the WTC and a PayPal donations button on there?

DXP55 · 27 Feb 2016 at 22:14

I had one from Kerry this morning saying rugby practice has moved to Seaford college - got to bring my trainers and rugby boots.

I have had a lot on this primary email address - Some presenter from channel 4 emailed me - another from housing group about maintenance - The one for jobs in London I did as OP did and changed password for him - was driving me mad.

Kerry was interesting though - wanted me to play tag rugby - I presume that's played in dark room - could someone enlighten me

Quartz · 27 Feb 2016 at 22:17

I have my own domain, but as .org.uk and as I don't use it for the web, I wish I could forward web requests to a placeholder saying that the domain is email-only.

ianh · 27 Feb 2016 at 22:30

Malevolence said:
Ever thought of just adding a holding page with nothing but an image of the WTC and a PayPal donations button on there?

I haven't got such a devious mind so it's never entered my mind before, but now you've mentioned it -

1. Buy Conspiracy Website
2. Add 9/11 Pic and Donations link
3. ??????????????
4. Profit!

Sui · 27 Feb 2016 at 22:40

Mines just my first name @gmail.com, I got in early, although it's the most common way of spelling my name.

I don't get loads, but there are at least 2 other people with my name who seem to put my email address.

MissChief · 27 Feb 2016 at 22:47

There a South African University lecturer who I get regular updates for his stock Portfolio. I have to say it's awfully impressive. Thousands of shares in about half a dozen companies.

whiskycycle · 27 Feb 2016 at 23:20

dowie said:
that is interesting - I've got a [email protected] account with a common first name and common last name...

Gmail can be a bit special like that... It doesn't see any period . symbols before the @ as such, so dave@, d.ave@ d.a.v.e@ are the same as far as it's concerned. There is a Google help articl explaining it as well... Only reason I found out is because I kept getting emails meant for a bloke who shot guns for sport and also tried to buy TVR (the whole company, not just a car)

I believe you can register a Google account that includes the dots and or doesn't though, and it treats those differently... Essentially a Google account and a Gmail account aren't necessarily linked as such.

VincentHanna · 28 Feb 2016 at 01:21

Got a link? Couldn't find it myself

dowie · 28 Feb 2016 at 01:34

undergroove said:
Gmail can be a bit special like that... It doesn't see any period . symbols before the @ as such, so dave@, d.ave@ d.a.v.e@ are the same as far as it's concerned. There is a Google help articl explaining it as well... Only reason I found out is because I kept getting emails meant for a bloke who shot guns for sport and also tried to buy TVR (the whole company, not just a car)

I'm well aware of that as a result of receiving the e-mails, what I don't seem to understand is why people keep on getting their own e-mail address wrong