What do I do when I get email info intended for someone else?

June 1, 2012 12:36 PM

I have a common name at a common domain name for email accounts. I sometimes receive emails that aren't intended for me - and this week, an email had info I didn't want to see. What do I do?

I have a common name and my email is at a common email account domain. As a result, I frequently - several times a week - receive emails that are intended for other people than me. Most times it's pretty innocuous, so I don't mind telling them that they've contacted the wrong person. This week, someone sent me their personal banking account info, in a way that makes it clear it's not spam but someone actually trying to communicate their account info. I want to tell them they've sent it to the wrong person, but I'm freaked out at acknowledging the fact that I've seen this material - because, let's face it, I'd be freaked out if someone told me they'd seen my account numbers.

I'm in Canada. What do I do or say? Should I just delete the email and pretend I never saw it? Or should I try to contact the person?

posted by anonymous to Computers & Internet (15 answers total)

Yeah, Husbunny has this problem too.

Let them know you got the email in error, that way, they'll know to resend to the correct person.

You're honest, you're letting them know you saw it, what they do with the info is up to them.

Just hit reply with your typical note: "Hi, I got this message in error, please check the email you're trying to reach"

Or whatever it is you usually type.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:39 PM on June 1, 2012 [3 favorites]

I'm freaked out at acknowledging the fact that I've seen this material - because, let's face it, I'd be freaked out if someone told me they'd seen my account numbers.

Would you rather the stranger just ignored it so you never knew that your personal info was floating out around there?

I think sending back an email that said, "Hey, I am not your bank and you have the wrong email address, I have no interest in your account info but you should probably ask your bank to change your account number just for your own peace of mind." would be a nice gesture. I don't really think you have any responsibility beyond that, but it would certainly be a mitzvah to send it back.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 12:40 PM on June 1, 2012 [6 favorites]

I don't see why you'd handle this differently than the other emails where you've informed the person.

OK, they might "freak out." So what? How does that affect you? They'll still be better off realizing what happened. You can't control a stranger's emotional reaction.
posted by John Cohen at 12:41 PM on June 1, 2012 [7 favorites]

Just send a reply (omitting their banking info, of course) stating that they sent it to the wrong place and that you've deleted the email.

If you're worried about their ham-handedness getting them into trouble and blaming you -- the road to hell, etc. -- make an anonymous burner email and just mention "personal data" so that they don't necessarily know it was their banking info.
posted by griphus at 12:41 PM on June 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

Well, they should get freaked out that they're not careful enough about where they're sending thir account info. All you can do is tell them and then not steal their money.
posted by cmoj at 12:41 PM on June 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

I would do as Ruthless bunny said(above) but omit the info...
posted by femmme at 12:42 PM on June 1, 2012

This question has been answered at Ask Metafilter before:

http://ask.metafilter.com/215909/Im-not-who-you-think-I-am

Somewhat related:

http://ask.metafilter.com/169013/I-do-not-want-to-be-neutered-why-is-gmail-inviting-me-to-a-neutering
posted by matildaben at 12:43 PM on June 1, 2012

I have a common name, too, and have also encountered this problem. (Usually I only get potentially embarrassing personal info, never anything like account info so far!)

If I were you, I'd email the sender back and say something like,

"Hi, [sender]

I thought you should know that you sent this email to me, and not whomever your intended recipient is. As soon as I noticed it wasn't mine I stopped reading. Once I hit send on this, I'll delete your email...I just wanted you to know.

Take care,
anonymous"


After that, at least they know. It's up to them whether or not they want to change all their info.
posted by phunniemee at 12:43 PM on June 1, 2012

Happens to me all the time. I've been invited both to report for duty at a secure military facility and attend a C-suite meeting at Microsoft.

Just reply with a "You got the wrong guy" email, delete what you've got, and leave it at that.
posted by valkyryn at 12:46 PM on June 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'd be freaked out if someone told me they'd seen my account numbers.

Really? Because they're on all of your cheques.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:46 PM on June 1, 2012 [10 favorites]

I got this once. I replied with, "This is very sensitive information that I do not believe was intended for me. For your safety and mine please change your account number. I will delete this email."

There hasn't been any trouble yet. But since you've already opened the email I don't think deleting it and pretending you didn't is the way to go.

Slightly off topic: WHO DOES THIS?
posted by AmandaA at 1:05 PM on June 1, 2012

This happens to me all. the. time.

One time, I got a confirmation from Expedia, and I called them to tell them that the email address they had on file was for somebody else (and wanted to verify that it wasn't identity theft or fraud). The customer service was so terrible, that after over an hour of trying to explain otherwise, the lady just kept saying "Yes, sir, we'll cancel your flight." I eventually just gave up.

Other guy with my name: I'm sorry they canceled your flight. I really didn't mean it. I was just looking out for you, really!

In general, though, I usually just send a note back saying "Sorry, I don't think this is who you think it is. Just so you know."
posted by General Malaise at 1:13 PM on June 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

I've gotten fairly sensitive stuff and I always reply with the same "wrong address" boilerplate. No special treatment is required. If they freak out, that will probably help them be more careful and if they try to sue you, they won't have a case. If they are appreciative or say nothing then they're okay.
posted by michaelh at 1:21 PM on June 1, 2012

Oh this happens to me all the time, too. I send everyone the same form letter-y email. Of course, now your email is in their address book and they'll probably forget about this and do it again in six months.

I almost asked a similar question today because I get added to lots of incorrect listservs. Not spam - things like a local car dealership in a different state, telling me when it's time for a oil change, a teacher support group, a family newsletter in Australia, etc. Unsubscribe and/or report span never work! So frustrating!
posted by troika at 2:27 PM on June 1, 2012

I used to work for a company where I shared my name with the head of payroll. People used to e-mail me all the time with details of other employees' salaries. They didn't even put them in a password-protected file, they were just right out in the open.

I did what many people here are suggesting, and wrote back saying "you have the wrong person." Because I knew who they'd meant to send the e-mail to, I also copied her in. And I copied in the person whose salary details had been sent to me, because I figured they had a right to know. It was rare for anyone to make the mistake twice.
posted by Perodicticus potto at 2:58 AM on June 2, 2012 [1 favorite]