this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2026
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I have a first name.lastname@gmail.com email address.
Every single week I get a different person's legitimate email because they forget their email is firstname.lastname12345@gmail.com or some other number, and sign me up for stuff..
I get bank statements, rent notices, holiday bookings, xbox live accounts, kayak club membership emails, pizza delivery receipts, Amazon.com accounts and purchases...
You name it....
XKCD calls it "Reverse ID Theft" - I call it "Identity Donation": it's like people think: "here... Be me for a bit... See how you like it..."
https://xkcd.com/1279/
Well that XKCD comic nailed it. There is a doctor in another state with my name and occasionally patients send me their prescription questions.
I also had to specifically ask a lady with a similar phone number to stop giving mine out.