Getting emails from a different account.

[wizzardus]

A few days ago I started getting some random emails with a different name in them. Firstly I thought it was some kind of phishing, but further inspection showed the emails were quite true.

I have an acount with (lets say) "example@gmail.com" email registered. But all these new one are coming from (lets say) "exam.ple@gmail.com" account (notice the period in it).

How is this even possible? Who is to blame here? google for threating both emails the same, or ebay to allow such similarity in emails?

I can easily force a password reset on that account without any problems, and get full access to it.

[eburtonlab]

Gmail ignores periods in usernames, so it treats both of your examples the same.

Some people add periods inside their gmail addresses to create a "unique" email address that still points to their original mailbox.

It's possible that someone with a similar email address has inadvertantly given out your email address as their own, or used it as a contact address mistakenly.

[wizzardus]

But surely he shouldn't be able to register a new account with that email, regardless of period in it? Without me confirming it first?

[eburtonlab]

Are you sure that's the actual registered email address? Perhaps the address was specified in some communications preference for user-to-user messages (mine is different from my registered email address). See the Account tab in "My eBay" under communications preferences.

It's been a while since I registered, but I would think you would need access to an email's inbox to be able to register with that address. That should be true if you are changing your primary address as well.

If someone has specified your address as the destination for their ebay messages, it will be difficult for you to reach them through eBay. You may have to contact eBay directly.

[wizzardus]

I managed to force a password reset on that account with that dot, so I'm quite sure it's the actual account.

Looking back at my emails (both mine from 2011 and the new one with the dot), none required to confirm the email uppon first registration 😕

In the end, I decided to change my own ebay mail, for security reasons.

[3eyedfishcatcher]

It showed up in your spam folder. There is a old way off sending spoof emails using a command prompt screen that makes it look like a legitimate email message. When replied to the reply message goes no were. It is a old tech support test to see if mail boxes can receive emails. Spammer's can use it to send spam emails with false links embedded in the email. They also can embed malware into the emails. Probably some scammer bought a list of valid emails from the dark web and sent you a spam message hoping you would open it thus installing their malware or perhaps tricking you to click on a fake link to direct you to a website. Web pages can also install bad items as can links. Links can also pull your personal info if they are running a phishing scam tring to gain more info on you for a identity scam.