Reverse Identity Theft

If your email address is [first initial]+[last name]@gmail.com you gradually get to know lots of older people who have the same name pattern [[A figure stands talking on the phone.]] Figure: Yes, I know it would make sense if that were your email address, but it's not. Phone: But how did you get my number? Figure: Your phone bill. {{Title text: I asked a few friends whether they'd had this happen, then looked up the popularity of their initials names over time. Based on those numbers, it looks like there must be at least 750,000 people in the US alone who think 'Sure, that's probably my email address' on a regular basis.}}

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