Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

I have the same problem and at least once a week someone tries to recover the password to “their” email address. I’ve gotten unlimited spam which my provider usually deals with well but sometimes there are periods of days where 5+ per hour get through. I’ve gotten dick pics and all kinds of receipts. I have hotel logins with the wrong name assigned because I could only make accounts by recovering one someone else made (so my hotel receipts have the wrong name on them).

I used to reply to misaddressed mail when it amused me. I used to string along a whole family of people that included me in group emails with racist Obama memes and pictures bragging of poaching.

I stopped replying to these when in another case I was asked to tell estranged and family member that their sister had cancer since I was the only one still in contact with her. I did inform them they had the wrong address at that point.

I’m still on a mailing list for senior members of a local police department and even was sent logon/passwords to some of their systems but I’ve learned not to try to correct these things, it’s just too much of a hassle. In the case of Venmo and Verizon I couldn’t get it fixed even with phone calls.




Maybe this is why I’ve received upwards of 500 requests to reset my Instagram password over the last year?




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2025 batch! Applications are open till Aug 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: