Could this be ID fraud?

[BonjourBonheur]

Just received an email confirming I've been added to the electoral roll in Gillingham. The problem is, I don't live in Gillingham and have not applied to be added to the electoral roll.

I've written back to say this. I'm slightly concerned that this could be connected to ID fraud- is this possible or am I being paranoid? WWYD?

Did they address you by name in the email?

Definitely something to check up on, you are right to be concerned

Look up the number of the Council and give them a call. Strange though that someone wanting to steal your identity would use your actual email address. Could be that the peson with your name in Gillingham has a very similar email address and has made a typo

Is your email address your name?

It’s probably an email typo, but good to check.

Thanks. Yes the letter addresses me by name, which is the same as my email (eg [email protected]). It could be a typo.

Don’t reply to the email or send any more emails to that address. Google the phone/email for the council involved and contact them that way.

Don't send any more emails.
Phone them from the number on their official website

I just found my confirmation of applying to the electoral roll email OP. Did it look like this? The big scribbled out bit is the council address.

The email came from [email protected]

Ok, have spoken to the council. They checked the application for registration- it is someone with my name who has put my email address as contact details, but a different DOB and NI number. So most likely just someone putting the wrong email address on their application.

Thank you, everyone. Like a fool, I did just call the number on the letter but having checked it afterwards, it luckily was the genuine number.

Glad it's all sorted

Just a heads up for anyone that's never created a mass email before in an email tool - anyone can make an email look EXACTLY like that, and can make the 'sender name' anything that you want. Always check the sender email as @girlmom21 rightly suggests.
The most important bit is what comes before the .uk or the .com bit as that can't be faked.

Anyone could create an email address gov.electoral.co.uk for example. Nobody can use an email address that ends in gov.uk other than the government to send an email.