I keep getting emails that belong to another person whose Gmail is very similar to mine. My email is something like [email protected] and theirs is [email protected].
This started with random shopping confirmations from different countries, then I got some home improvement documents that showed me their real contact details. The worst part was when a dating app notification arrived and my spouse saw it first. That created some trust issues at home even though I explained what was happening.
The other person seems much younger than me based on the emails I receive. After months of quiet, I just got a message about renewing some security software subscription. Pretty funny since it’s supposed to protect against identity issues.
I found their phone number in those renovation emails a couple years back and tried reaching out, but they never responded.
My main concerns are:
Is there any chance this person can somehow get into my Gmail account?
Should I keep trying to contact them or just ignore these misdelivered emails?
I’m worried about potential security risks but not sure what the best approach is here.
Just mark them as spam and move on. I’ve dealt with this for 2 years - someone keeps using my email for Uber Eats and Netflix signups. Your account is completely safe though, they can’t actually get in. Gmail won’t help when you report it either. I tried multiple times and they basically said ‘not our problem.’ Way easier to delete than chase down every company.
Security-wise you’re fine - they can’t access your actual Gmail account. But manually sorting constant misdirected emails gets old fast.
I dealt with this exact thing for months. Someone used my email for gym memberships, DoorDash orders, job applications - you name it. Instead of playing email detective daily, I automated the whole thing.
I set up a system that scans emails for obvious red flags: different names, foreign addresses, services I don’t use. When it spots one, it auto-sorts to a folder and sends the sender a quick note explaining the mix-up.
For you, it’d catch those shopping confirmations, dating app pings, and subscription stuff before they hit your main inbox. No more awkward spouse conversations about mystery emails.
It also tracks which companies keep screwing up, so you know who’s worth calling directly.
20-minute setup, then it handles everything. Beats manually dealing with someone else’s digital mess every day.
Your Gmail account is totally secure. Priya’s right about the dot thing - Gmail sees those addresses as the same, so this is just people typing the wrong email when they sign up for stuff.
I’ve dealt with this nightmare for three years. Someone with my name uses my address for everything - medical appointments, car insurance, you name it. I was getting 15-20 wrong emails every week.
Here’s what actually works: skip the person, go straight to the companies. When I get banking statements or subscription stuff, I call customer service right away and explain what’s happening. Most businesses will fix it once they get it.
For that dating app mess - screenshot everything and contact their support. They can usually track down the real account owner and force them to change emails. Saves you from more awkward conversations with your spouse.
That security software renewal is actually perfect - start there since they obviously have current contact info for this person.
Good news - they can’t access your account. Gmail ignores dots in addresses, so [email protected] and [email protected] hit the same inbox (whoever signed up first). You’re just catching their emails because people mistype the address.
The real headache is manually sorting through this stuff constantly. I dealt with the same thing - kept getting someone’s bank statements and shopping receipts. Nearly drove me insane.
I fixed it by automating the whole mess. Set up filters to catch emails obviously meant for the other person (names, locations, usual patterns). They get forwarded to a separate folder, and I auto-reply to senders explaining the mix-up.
You can build this without coding. Use email parsing to spot the wrong emails, create response templates for different situations, and track whether it’s improving.
No more manually handling random shopping confirmations or dating app alerts. The system runs itself and you get your sanity back.
Don’t bother trying to contact the other person - most people ignore stranger messages anyway. Just automate it.
This happens more than you’d think, and don’t worry - your Gmail isn’t compromised. The other person can’t access your account since they’re completely separate despite the similar addresses. I’ve been through this exact thing with someone using my email for hotels and conference bookings. Here’s what actually works: pick your battles. Focus on emails that matter - financial stuff, medical info, anything that could cause real problems. That security software renewal? Perfect opportunity. These companies usually have decent customer service and want to reach the right person since money’s involved. Call them directly and explain what’s happening. Random shopping confirmations from other countries? Just delete them. Not worth the hassle for low-stakes purchases. Save your energy for sensitive info or anything that might cause drama at home. I dealt with this for over a year and found about 60% of companies will help when you contact them directly. The person using your email though? They never respond to contact attempts.