WWYD: personal email question

[LoveTrains]

I got a random email the other day from a person I didn't recognize. It was a picture of three children with a menorah, and my email was just one on a string of others, many of whom have the same last name as me. The caption was something about a happy hannukah.

I just ignored, because it clearly wasn't for me.

Now I appear to be on some thread of family emails and I keep getting these family photos of these three children. The latest one (which I received this morning) was of the kids in the bath tub.

Should I email the sender and let her know that I am not who she thinks I am? disregard? WWYD?

The first emails started less than a week ago so it really hasn't been that long.

[raangoli]

That happened to me once, but not as many emails as you have received. I emailed the person back to let them know that they had the wrong person. It just felt like the right thing to do.

[pamela]

I eventually email the whole list of them with "this is not who you are meaning to email" because things were starting to get really personal. It was that they were forgetting the i at the end of her name.

[Deleted]

I get those from time to time for other people with my first initial and last name, and I always write back and say "Sorry, I think you have the wrong email address for your friend." I figure that way they can resend to the right person.

[KaraOrNot]

I would let them know. If it kept happening, I would block the email address.

[LoveTrains]

Ok guys, I will send something now!

[LoveTrains]

My guess is it someone with the exact same name as me, since my gmail is [e-mail]. They just weren't quick enough to get the gmail address.

[Becca]

That happens to me a lot. My gmail is also firstname.lastname and I get mail for others with the same name now, and always let the sender know they are in error.

There are three 'mes' in particular that I get email for a lot (one of whom just can't seem to remember her OWN email address). I have figured out the correct emails for these people, and often just forward the emails on.

[aspentosh]

Yeah, I'd let them know if you haven't already.

[macmars45]

Before I was married my email address was [e-mail]. People RSVPing to my wedding were emailing [e-mail]. She kindly emailed them back saying they had the wrong email address. I actually emailed her and thanked her. Is that weird? She never replied to me.

[Deleted]

,

[Susie]

I had something similar happen via texting. Someone included my number mistakenly in a text to, I assume, a large group of family + friends about a hospitalized person's condition. I got stuck in a loop of replies and updates.

I texted them a couple times to ask them to remove me. Eventually they did.

I was doubly irritated with the texting because we pay per text (don't do it much) and I didn't want to pay for those!

[Deleted]

I got a masters program schedule and offer letter for the woman who has lastname.firstname@gmail. I was quicker to get an account, so I have firstname.lastname@gmail - she is in a totally different field from me so the offer letter was actually interesting. Yes, I read it!

[ladybug2002]

I got some legit business emails meant for someone with my same name who lives in California. I ignored them as spam at first but finally responded when they started marking things urgent and it was clear they actually needed some response from the real person. They didn't reply to me but I haven't heard from them since.

[dr.girlfriend]

Let them know.

My gmail is "dr.(firstnamelastname)" -- I don't use it for any professional stuff, just chose it because firstnamelastname was already chosen, but unfortunately there's a psychologist with my same name. Patients apparently get my email address by googling or guessing, and send me these (sometimes awkward) missives intended for her. Very embarrassing for us all!

I was sending emails to my friend Michelle for almost a year thinking her email address was m(last name) at hotmail, and then about a year later some guy named Mike (Last Name) was like, "I'm not Michelle!" I was like, "Dude, you could have told me a YEAR ago and saved us all some trouble!"

[ECB]

Yes, of course I'd tell them. 1- they clearly think they are sending it to someone who is now most likely NOT getting the emails, and 2- I woudln't want to be on the obvious email list to get ALL their personal emails.

[RoxMonster]

In undergrad, another student had the exact same name as me (first and last). My university address was first initial last name and hers was first initial, middle initial, last name. But I got her email ALL the time--from friends, family, even professors. I would always just forward it on to her because I knew that's what happened. With a couple, I did write back and let them know it was the incorrect email but that I forwarded it on.

Then a couple years after I graduated (we can keep our school emails for life) one of her friends started sending me (among others) a bunch of emails. I ignored at first because it was a lot of chain email crap but then I got an evite to go bowling once and also for someone's birthday party. I finally emailed the person and let her know once it stopped being more than just junk mail.

[Deleted]

You could start some funny rumors first and then tell them the elf of the shelf made you do it.



Just kidding, I would let them know.

[moolarkey]

Wait until they announce a family get together and then go. let them be surprised and wondering who this "new" family member is.