What could be causing this - email issue

[Twizbe]

Really not sure where to put this but chat seemed the best place. Happy to move if there is a better one.

A couple of days ago I got a really random email from a Canadian internet / TV provider about my new account.

I've obviously not made an account with them as I'm in the UK and had never heard of them. I ignored it.

Later that day I got another one with the appointment time the cables to be installed ...

Then another one with set up info....

I investigated and it's a legit company and these emails seem genuine.

Only issue is they are clearly not meant for me. They include the address and name of the woman they are intended for. This woman shares my surname and initials.

I've contacted the company and told them I'm getting these emails and they are looking into it. Here's the question. The emails are being sent to the ladies email which is in this format ANSmith etc (not real name) where as my email is A.N.Smith etc ....

I've never had this before, anyone know why these emails might be coming to me?

Probably because she typed her email address in wrong

Dots don't count with gmail

Is it Gmail?

@londongirl12

Probably because she typed her email address in wrong

She didn't, that's the crazy thing. The company don't have my email on file and I can see the emails are being sent to an email address that doesn't have the dots in.

Somehow they are ending up in my inbox.

I've had this email address for 13 years ... I've never had this issue before. I'm guessing this won't be a new email address for this woman either.

Yep, dots are the issue here.

My DH has the same issue, he is first name.last [email protected] and the other person is first name_lastname. He gets all sorts for ‘other DH’ who is American, usually recruitment agencies. He used to email them back but now blocks whoever the sender is.

If it is gmail then asDuck says the dots don't count and you own all versions of the ANSmith gmail address. So the other person has entered a wrong email address. I had loads of it happening at one point (presumably cookies stored the wrong email address in the other person's device so it got auto filled in multiple websites). I either ignored or if it looked important contact the company via their website rather than risking hitting links in the emails. Did wonder if it was a scam but never worked out what they were after if it was. They signed up to netflix which I could have easily watched on their buck...

Idk about the technical point but I have the same issue, I've had my hotmail account for years so managed to get the firstnamelastname format before anyone else and someone else with the same name keeps putting my email address instead of hers... I've had emails about ordering flowers, candles, a sofa - even had an email from her solicitors about her house move - and today her son's tennis club got in touch! She has a much more interesting life than I do
If it's a smaller company / someone who needs to know it's the wrong email address I email them and ask them to contact her by phone and get the right email address, if it's eg a big chain store / inexpensive stuff I don't bother, I figure the stuff will make it to her home address without me confusing everyone...

Thanks all, it does seem to be a dot issue.

The company will be contacting her to ask her to change the email address.

It's a shame I can't really get in touch with the woman. The surname we share is actually quite unusual. The sort of unusual where most people with it are related in some degree. I know there was a distant uncle who's family sent him to Canada before the authorities could transport him to Australia lol.