Weird email issue

Dirk Diggler · 25 Jul 2016 at 10:11

My email is the format: [email protected]
Another guy with the exact same name as me has the format: [email protected]

I receive receipts from e-tailers and PayPal Australia invoices etc from time to time, and they are for the other guy. They aren't phishing scams, just run of the mill receipts.

Strangely, if I send an email to either version of the email then I receive the mail... But I only ever receive the Australian emails maybe once a fortnight, so not all of that person's emails.

I also wonder how many of my emails the Aussie guy receives, if any. :confused:

Should this even be possible?

Azza · 25 Jul 2016 at 10:15

https://support.google.com/mail/answer/10313?hl=en

Sometimes you may receive a message sent to an address that looks like yours but has a different number or arrangement of periods. While we know it might be unnerving if you think someone else's mail is being routed to your account, don't worry: both of these addresses are yours.

Gmail doesn't recognize dots as characters within usernames, you can add or remove the dots from a Gmail address without changing the actual destination address; they'll all go to your inbox, and only yours. In short:

[email protected] = [email protected]
[email protected] = [email protected]
[email protected] = [email protected]

All these addresses belong to the same person. You can see this if you try to sign in with your username, but adding or removing a dot from it. You'll still go to your account.

If you get mail that seems to be intended for someone else, it's likely that the sender entered the wrong address, just like if you've ever dialed a wrong phone number for someone. In these cases, we suggest contacting the original sender or website when possible to alert them to the mistake.

One last thing: Google Apps does recognize dots. If you'd like to have a dot in your username, please ask your domain administrator to add your preferred username as a nickname.

Dirk Diggler · 25 Jul 2016 at 10:30

Hmm, seems strange that various companies would send to the wrong address repeatedly, but maybe that's the reason.

MarkeR · 25 Jul 2016 at 10:31

All the emails as far as I am aware go to the first registered.

Someone can tell me if I am wrong on that.

ubern00b · 25 Jul 2016 at 11:03

I get this all the time. I have had to create a rule that sends anything that is not explicitly my email into an "idiots who cannot get their email address correct" folder, just so I can review them periodically and then delete them and so that it doesn't clog up my actual inbox.

Some companies will delete the email from their records if you email them, some ignore you. I have successfully managed to log into someones account at a large hotel chain and would have been able to upgrade their booking to a suite at a rather massive price hike, should I have been so inclined

nst68 · 25 Jul 2016 at 11:06

You'll get both, as said above Gmail ignores any dots, dashs etc.

I have [email protected] and get emails from all over the world for different people with the same name.
Just today one of my namesakes bought some clothes from SuperDry!

I think the problem is that they probably have an email address like [email protected] and they forget to add the extra numbers.

dowie · 25 Jul 2016 at 11:13

String said:
My email is the format: [email protected]
Another guy with the exact same name as me has the format: [email protected]

[..]

Should this even be possible?

no it isn't possible and he doesn't have that e-mail, both are your e-mail addresses and he's simply making a mistake when entering his e-mail on online forms etc..

dowie · 25 Jul 2016 at 11:20

ubern00b said:
Some companies will delete the email from their records if you email them, some ignore you. I have successfully managed to log into someones account at a large hotel chain and would have been able to upgrade their booking to a suite at a rather massive price hike, should I have been so inclined

There is one repeat offender who has been told about it several times...

I've previously had his pay slips, details of a disciplinary issue at work, really naff dating websites (these were annoying as they spam you multiple times a day when people view the profile and they're a faff to unsubscribe from)... so he basically knows he's repeatedly messed up.

So more recently I decided to mess with him by rescheduling a delivery for an online order three times... after a month (presumably of confusion and phone calls on his part) the company sending the item e-mailed me and realised the mistake (I had originally e-mailed them to take my e-mail off their mailing list but they carried on with the - your order will be delivered on X date, click here to reschedule mails).

Dirk Diggler · 25 Jul 2016 at 11:36

I just rechecked the latest PayPal email after the comments here, and I've realised that it was a one off credit card payment via PayPal, so that explains the mistyped email address.

I've also noticed that his full address is on the email. I wonder just how much info I could gather with this simple mistake he has made.